Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 October 2003 — Page 11

jUlDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2003

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

PAGE All

Legislators look at more property tax reforms

Have you ever been abused?

Staff Report As the 2004 session of the Indiana General Assembly rapidly 'Approaches, property taxes continue to be a major focus for law‘tfiakers. % ' While the tax restructuring rearms enacted last year have Jhelped blunt the impact of the .property reassessment, it is also [pbvious that additional moves 4pust be taken to make sure that relief goes to the people who need it the most: homeowners across TIhdiana. 1 What can be done? " r '’Under the guidance of state r Kep. Bill Crawford, D-Indianapo-f ljs, the House Ways and Means ^pmmittee will conduct a series r pf public meetings around the state on a series of reforms advocated by Indiana House mem--'bfers. The first of these meetings 'will be at 1:30 p.m. Oct. 23 in the ‘House chamber at the Statehouse. ' Among these reforms area pro'jk>sal from Gov. Joe Kernan to extend the filing deadline for the .pomestead credit and other cred,its and deductions to Dec. 1,2003. ^Hie original deadline for filing was back in May, but that date passed before many people actually received their tax bills. They nlid not have a full chance to seek ^lief. J ' If approved, these changes would impact the $35,000 homeS^ead deduction, a 20 percent ( fiomestead credit, mortgage deductions, and credits and deducitions impacting people over 65, jibe blind, disabled and veterans. Given more time, homeowners -Will have additional chances to Obtain credits and deductions that ban cut their property tax bills. We must pay particular attention to the plight facing those who own older homes, since property’ taxes on those structures have inleased more than expected, o'! But the reforms sought by tHouse Democrats go beyond ex>tending these application dead--lines. It is obvious that spending fey local units of government needs to be brought under control. Initial results from the 2003 property tax collections show that the state will need to pay nearly $90 million in additional property tax relief funding. Why? Because property taxes increased in 2003 by over $600 million per year more than was originally anticipated.

Property tax levies statewide increased by over 13 percent in 2003, which is not acceptable. A large portion of those increases were implemented by local units of government. In the past, local units were allowed to increase their maximum levy by 5 percent each year. Many units did not take advantage of this provision on a yearly basis, preferring instead to “carry over” these increases and make one large increase during theyear that reassessment took place. During reassessment, many townships and local governments increased property taxes by more than 20 percent. In Marion County, local levies increased by 16.1 percent. Additionally, Marion County was one of several counties that levied tens of millions of dollars of “buffer” property taxes to help pay for appeals that did not take place.

House Democrats are proposing several possible options for cutting, freezing or rolling back local property taxes, by restricting local property tax increases to no more than 5 percent, curtailing the ability of local units to “bank” unused maximum levy’ increases, or even increasing the homestead deduction over the next several years. Beyond the fact that local government spending is out of control, it is becoming apparent that many reassessments are flawed. The Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), which is the state agency responsible for overseeing local assessments, has found that several counties have not completed their reassessments correctly. Many others will not complete the reassessment until sometime next year, which could cause some homeowners to be “double-billed” in 2004. House Democrats are propos-

ing to give the DLGF the authority to take over local reassessment processes when assessors fail to meet deadlines or demonstrate an inability to get their work d< me in a timely manner. The state needs to step in now to get these reassessments back on track as soon as possible. When legislators enacted historic reforms to I nd iana’s tax code in 2002, they were designed to offset the impact of a court-or-dered system that would have increased homeowners’ property taxes by as much as 33 percent if the Indiana General Assembly had not acted. The reforms have had a positive impact in some areas of the state, but it is obvious that, accountability and belt-tightening must come not only from state officials, but local officials as well. The time to ensure that these reforms will benefit local homeowners is now.

Angela Cain WTHR Community Affairs Director I lave you ever been abused? Does your partner continually criticize you — what you wear, what you say, how you act or look? Call you degrading names? Threaten you, slap you or push you? Fail to respect your right to say no to a sexual activity? If so, you may be a victim of domestic abuse. It is not always physical. Sometimes it’s emotional, verbal, or mental abuse. And you need to know that you are not alone. Domestic abuse is a major problem in many Central Indiana homes. Last year, the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence received more than 58-thousand calls for help. Indianapolis Police and Marion County Sheriffs deputies responded to more than 32-thou-sand abuse calls, some repeat offenses. And last year, 64 Hoosiers lost their lives to domestic violence. Often no one knows what goes on behind closed doors, but the silent shame of domestic abuse claims our children as its’most innocent victims. Children in abusive homes have a greater risk of growing up to be abusers or becoming victims of abuse. They have a greater risk of performing poorly in school or getting involved in lives of crime. And children in homes where their parents constantly argue or physically fight told me that they often feel sick and guilty - that they sometimes run and hide to avoid the violence - and that the abuse tears them apart inside. If you are in an abusive relationship, ask yourself, “How is this hurting my children?” WTHR-13 just completed a two-month long campaign called “Shattering the Silence.” Our goal was to help bring the issue of domestic abuse out of the shadows through special reports, daily public service announcements and an hour-long Prime Time Special on domestic abuse. The special included a documentary from the Domestic Violence Network of Greater Indianapolis (DVNGI), our campaign partner, and it featured interviews from abuse survivors, such as Indianapolis Recorder President Carolene Mays. WTHR also went to the streets with Indianapolis police

and we learned that some officers spend 50% to 75% of their day running on domestic abuse calls. How can we stop the violence? It is a vicious cycle. Domestic abuse experts say if we are in an abusive home, there’s a chance we grew up in one ;is well and we don’t really know any other way to live. Ruth Bramlage, Director of’Counseling Services for Family Service, says families have to stop feeling shame and blame and, instead, find ways to stop the cycle. We have the power to build healthier family relationships and there are many Central Indiana programs available to help. Family Service offers children and family therapy and it has programs to help treat the batterer, too. You can call Family Service at 317-634-6341. If you need to flee an abusive relationship, call the Indiana Coalition Against Domestic Violence at 1-800-332-7385. And even if you haven’t faced domestic abuse, you can help fight it by volunteering at areashelters or makingdonations and by insisting that your organizations, your churches, and your workplaces learn more about the issue. You can request speakers to address yourgroupsor get educational materials by calling the Domestic Violence Network of Greater Indianapolis at 317-475-6110. As a community, we can continue to “Shatter the Silence.” We saw some of you take action during our campaign. Calls for help to the statewide hotline increased 65%; DVNGI had about a 30% increase in requests for educational materials; and more of you volunteered to help at area domestic abuse agencies. Thankyou so much for getting involved, but remember that the problem is far from over. We must continue to find ways to help each other or to help ourselves. Examine your own relationships. Think about the way that you talk to your children’dr to your loved ones. Do you criticize them or praise them? Do you build their self-esteem or bring it down? Do you have people living in fear of you or do they look forward to spending time with you every day? We can all learn to treat each other with more respect and love. It’s as simple as following the golden rule that many of us learned as children. “Do unto others as you would have others do unto you.” Ifyou don’t want to be abused, don’t abuse others. Our children deserve to be raised in a loving environment. Let’s strive to make that happen... for the sake of our children.

Increases in local property tax levies in Marion County

Taxing Units exceeding 15% increase

2002

2003

% Change

Indianapolis Sanitation (Liquid)

$26,459

$724,286

2637.3%

Center Township

$2,887,057

$7,936,055

174.9%

Decatur Township

$1,547,705

$3,000,938

93.9%

Wayne Township

$6,098,653

$8,656,145

41.9%

Beech Grove City Schools

$6,585,932

$8,494,088

29.0%

Perry Township

$6,701,223

$8,520,666

27.2%

Wynnedale Civil Town

$10,301

$13,014

26.3%

Indianapolis-Marion County Public Library

$32,136,015

$40,419,763

25.8%

Speedway City Public Library

$787,888

$988,359

25.4%

Speedway Public Transportation

$157,181

$196,823

25.2%

Marion County Health and Hospital

$76,157,416

$93,717,632

23.1%

Marion County

$154,977,880

$184,814,665

19.3%

Indianapolis Public Schools

$152,830,955

$181,575,131

18.8%

Indianapolis Fire Special Service

$34,702,562

$40,895,798

17.8%

MARION COUNTY (all taxing units)

$1,082,544,618

$1,257,208,945

16.1%

Cumberland Civil Town

$434,696

$503,306

15.8%

Indianapolis Public Transportation

$10,130,028

$11,722,714

15.7%

Franklin Township Community Schools

$22,902,011

$26,495,253

15.7%

M.S.D. Warren Township Schools

$49,332,464

$57,029,969

15.6%

M.S.D. Wayne Township Schools

$49,886,950

$57,617,923

15.5%

Rocky Ripple Civil Town

$21,840

$25,190

15.3%

There are 47 local taxing units; 40 of them had increases over 5 percent.

READERS RESPOND

Planned Parenthood ready to help women * Rising unemployment. Rising uninsured. Rising health care costs. These headlines about the economy make most of us nervous about our futures. Where will we cut costs if the worst happens to u f s? These issues don’t affect only “the poor.

Many middle-class workers are seeing their disposable income, savings and future financial security- eroded by today’s basic living expenses. Those of us who used to feel comfortable in our ability’ to provide for our families are starting to wonder what former necessities will become luxuries if we need to start cutting more than just “corners." A concern for many women is the cost of health care. Studies show women pay 68 percent more in out-of-pocket ex-

penses. This disparity in cost is largely due to expenses associated with reproductive health care services. Health care isn’t a “corner"you should have to cut. In tough times women still need to maintain their health by receiving regular pelvic and breast exams. They still need Pap tests for diagnosis and treatment for cervical cell abnormalities. And they still need access to the birth control method of their choice. As a non-profit provider. Planned Par-

enthood is here to help with low- cost exams, subsequent medical care for advanced diagnosis and treatment of abnormal Pap tests, and birth control options at costs typically far lower than other providers. Planned Parenthood is here to help women of all ages and incomes with their reproductive health care needs. You don’t need to let the economy keepyou from taking care ofvour health. Planned Parenthood is here to help.

YOUR VOICE Will you exercise your right to vote on Nov. 4?

Marql Alias No. I’m not really into politics Uidess it’s the president. Marqi Alias

Lashellt Tipton Yes. My people worked too hard in the past to vote and for me not toexercise that right would he a dissatisfaction. Lashelle Tipton

Anthony Hornbak Yes, because it is my right. 1 want to make sure that I have my say in the election. I alsoVant to influence the people around me to vote. , Anthony llornhuk

Mary Ruth Snyder, Ph.D. President, Board of Directors Planned Parenthood of Greater Indiana Inc. Bush's failed policies George W. Bush’s spending policies in Iraq are failing. Things are not “better than we think," as the administration would have us believe. Our troops are being killed every day. The U.N. resolution is not going to help. It only supplies a small number of troops from other countries. Pakistan will be sending none. The administration’s policy of “go it alone" is a disaster. The president needs to replace his foreign policy team, and replace it with a new team, that will be dedicated to working w ith the international community. Our international reputation, national security, and the safety of our troops are at stake. Halliburton, Vice President Cheney’s cohorts, is receiv ing billions of our tax dollars, while Iraqi companies are being shunned. Halliburton is receiv ing gasoline w holesale from the Persian Gulf at 71 cents, then they are charging the American taxpayer $1.62 to $1.70. According to a poll conducted by the Stars and Stripes, a military newspaper, morale of our troops is very low. And rightfully so. They are being attacked daily. Their mission is unclear. And they characterize the I raqi war as hav ing little value. They are also performingjobs they were not trained to do Reuters has reported “the war with Iraq has galvanized the will of Islamic militants. And swollen the ranks of alQaeda. Now this is the truth. George \V. Bush’s foreign policies are a disaster. VVe need a change of course. A new direction. John M. Archer Jr.