http://www.post-trib.com/news/elections ... ly.articleBut Premeske pressed his case for property tax elimination in Indiana on behalf of the Team Hammond taxpayer group to which he belongs.
He took note of Lake County's special place in the theology of Indiana government reform.
"If one were to define Indiana in terms of the book of Genesis, Lake County would be Gomorrah," Premeske said. "South Bend, home to (House Speaker Pat Bauer), might be considered Sodom."Yes I agree there needs to be reforms in the taxing units, notably for Hammond the School City and the use of some casino revenues in the civil city. And yes Lake County has it's problems, not the least of which is an unwillingness to switch to an independent Human Resources department to fill vacancies rather than the good old fashion friend or a friend system. Still, government does need the revenues to run core essential services. So if you abolish the property tax you either must have a local income tax or raise the state tax sales or income tax. Well considering that a number of Jim's supporters are landlords I guess that's not too surprising.
I have often advocated a flat 2 tier tax for homeowners. And we now have the 1/2/3% tax everywhere except Lake County and I believe oddly St. Joseph County. I'm just saying eliminate the 1% tier with a flat tax. But of course Jim's organization wouldn't favor that and I have to wonder if his landlord supporters aren't worried that one day a reassessment will more fairly value their rental property.
So again, I say homeowners should have a flat tax that only goes to core services. Then, and only then, would I support a county income tax or a county sales tax to pay for more optional spending and only if projects of say over $half million would require voter approval in the next regular election.
By the time Jim Premeske of Hammond took the microphone at the "Revolt at the Statehouse" rally Wednesday morning, some in the crowd had begun to revolt against the rally, drifting away to chat with friends or peruse literature from interest groups in the rotunda.Could this be some indication that his group is not as firmly committed to the tax abolition after all? What is it they REALLY expect to have happen?? The state has been doing about all it can in this area but at some point spending reforms must come at the local taxing unit, not in the pocket the revenues come out of which does nothing to effect spending reforms. Then again, if you are a landlord and want to eliminate your property tax expense by taxing your renters I guess that's worth a car trip to meet & greet state legislators and give it a shot.