Legislator wants income tax capped at 1 percent

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BY MELANIE CSEPIGA
TIMES CORRESPONDENT | Friday, November 30, 2007 | (10 comment(s))

LOWELL | A region legislator is drafting a bill that would freeze any local income tax at 1 percent, he told a south Lake County gathering this week.

Grateful for some good tax news, a crowd of about 40 people applauded the possible income-tax limit at a public forum in Lowell Wednesday.

At the same time, the crowd learned more about the changing property-tax system.

"I'm in the process of generating legislation that says the 1-percent local income tax will stay where it's levied," State Rep. Don Lehe, R-Brookston said. "One segment of the county should not subsidize the bad spending of another segment of the county."

Lake County officials are still wrestling with whether to pass a 1-percent local income tax foisted on them by the state. The Legislature has mandated the income tax as a means of providing revenue for property-tax relief.

Lehe explained that the local income tax is a necessary demonstration from counties that they will be part of the process in revising Indiana's much-maligned property tax system.

"Counties keep coming to the state for help, and the counties need to show that they are trying to help themselves," he said.

At the same time, residents received some advice from West Creek Township Trustee/Assessor Rick Niemeyer and Cedar Creek Township Deputy Assessor Jolie Covaciu at Wednesday's forum.

Niemeyer said Lake County property tax bills are to be mailed in mid-December and will be due in January. Talk of an extension for payment is "not a done deal," he said.

Covaciu said the tax bills are to be sent out Monday to mortgage companies, and residents will be urged to pay the bills before the end of the year.

"You can go to your local assessor and get a printout on your taxes and get them paid," Niemeyer said.

Resident Tom Johnson asked whether property owners could still appeal an assessment if they pay their taxes early, and Niemeyer said it wouldn't be a problem.

"When you do get your notice, visit your assessor," Niemeyer said, adding that residents who believe their assessment is too high, for example, can discuss that with the township assessor for possible resolution without entering the formal appeals process.

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To: Wolfie wrote on Dec 3, 2007 1:34 PM:

" It will be capped until someone wants their brother in law hired or they decide its time they should receive a raise. Or, when they loan the county vehicle to junior to show off at school and he wrecks it. Take your pick, these are just some of the excuses they can use. "

Income tax should be capped at 0 % wrote on Nov 30, 2007 4:10 PM:

" I still fail to see how giving the government $1 dollar for them to keep a few cents and then redistribute it back to me in an unfair manner makes one bit of sense. Please let me keep my money so I can pay my property tax bill. Don't borrow it from me and give me a percentage of it back and tell me you are giving us property tax relief. This is an absolute farce. The politicians must think that anyone who believes this tax makes sense is a complete moron. It is one of the stupidest things I have ever seen in my life "

Fred wrote on Nov 30, 2007 3:04 PM:

" Why give renters any break? They are what is destroying the area. This is a perfect chance to make it more difficult to buy a house to turn into a rental. "

P Miller wrote on Nov 30, 2007 3:01 PM:

" We don't need a 1% income tax. We need elected officials that will look at ways to curb spending. My property tax bill increased 75% over last year, almost $700. My county income tax bill will be $400. My taxes will be $1100 more than last year. How am I expected to pay this when my net pay increase was much less than this. I work in Chicago and I pay Illinois 3% of my income, while Indiana only gets .4%. There are millions of dollars going to Illinois each year that should be staying in Indiana. Instead of taxing me an additional 1%, how about getting 1% back from Illinois. Work out a deal to share my tax dollars equitably between the two states. "

Fire the assessors! wrote on Nov 30, 2007 12:09 PM:

" The first redundant office, and the employees of same, that should be standing in the unemployment line are ALL township assessors. Get rid of ALL the patronage and nepotism jobs in the county also. I doubt a 1 percent or any percent income tax would be necessary then. "

G Davis wrote on Nov 30, 2007 10:51 AM:

" A crowd applauded!What a joke, do they really think anything is going to change? these politicians know most of the People are idiots who will belive anything they tell them, did they also mention the new tax or the upcoming tax for the South Shore? and how American it would be? They probably applauded then also! "

arm and leg wrote on Nov 30, 2007 10:42 AM:

" just to put my 2 cents in...... go ahead and keep taxing everyone to death. the rich keep getting richer and the middle and low class go out to the streets. mark my words , if you think crime is bad now wait til you have to pay more taxes. the gambling boats bring in enough revenue to cover everything. stop giving it to the rich, use it for the purpose it was brought here for. "

Hooray! wrote on Nov 30, 2007 9:00 AM:

" Mighty nice of you crooks to agree to only steal an additional 1% of my pay. Get real, you thieves will have your hands out to finance south shore expansion also. Lying sacks! "

Fooled me once, shame on you. Fooled me twice, shame on me wrote on Nov 30, 2007 8:33 AM:

" Don Lehe must think that we're all stupid. He voted for HB 1010, which forced Lake County to pass the COIT. We won't forget that, Don. I think that a primary challenge is in the works. You can't make a mess of the state tax system and get away with it. Don is part of the problem, and throwing him out on his keester is part of the solution. "

Wolfie wrote on Nov 30, 2007 8:01 AM:

" Capped for how long??? "

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