INDIANAPOLIS -- Indianapolis Public Schools on Friday said it will delay improvements to dozens of schools to ease the burden on people facing skyrocketing property tax bills.

IPS said it will delay the improvements, which would cost $475 million, until state and local governments address homeowners' outrage over property taxes, 6News' Norman Cox reported.

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Capitol WatchBlog: Property Tax Crisis

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Property taxes fund schools. IPS Superintendent Eugene White said the project delays won't reduce this year's property tax bills but would have an impact on next year's.

"We understand the tremendous problem that these added taxes have brought upon our patrons and taxpayers, and we are very, very empathetic to what's happening in our community," White said.

The projects -- the third phase of IPS's capital improvement plan -- include the introduction of air conditioning to some schools and work on lighting and handicap accessibility.

White said he'd like to finish the projects so students could enjoy the same type of facilities as students in other districts. But he said he and IPS's board couldn't put the cost on local taxpayers now.

According to estimates last spring, homeowners were expected to see a 24 percent raise in their property taxes this year, but residents in parts of some counties, including Marion County, have seen much higher increases.

Earlier this year, lawmakers approved rebates that were expected to lower the average increase to just less than 8 percent, but the rebates won't be sent until after the year's second installment of property tax bills are mailed in the fall.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has ordered an investigation into whether property value assessments were done unfairly in some counties, including Marion County, and Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson has proposed a plan that would lower Marion County property tax bills this year and next.