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Protesters Turn Up Property Tax Heat

Residents Vow To Hold Those Responsible For Tax Increases Accountable

POSTED: 5:31 pm EDT July 7, 2007
UPDATED: 6:40 pm EDT July 7, 2007

Homeowners who are upset with the latest round of property tax bills in Marion County again took their anger to the streets on Saturday, blocking Meridian Street in front of the governor's residence.

Some residents took part in a novel approach to call attention to their cause, 6News' Jennifer Carmack reported.

Lemonade was for sale on Crestview Avenue Saturday morning, but it wasn't the ordinary summer weekend lemonade stand. The price for a glass depended upon where residents live.

Homeowners set up the stand to demonstrate how property taxes are making them feel like they are being squeezed out of their homes.

"(I could understand it) if we saw a 70 percent increase in services," said David Dessauer, who set up the stand. "We don't even have sidewalks here. If we saw 70 percent or 80 percent increase in crime reduction or more cops or something."

Michele Dessauer said she is motivated by a desire to have something done now about property tax bills, which skyrocketed everywhere in the county, but hit some individual property owners harder than others.

"I want people to become involved. I don't want people to sit around and complain, 'My taxes went up 200 percent,' but then they write the check," Dessauer said. "What can we do about it?"

Just a few blocks away, at 49th and Pennsylvania streets, more angry homeowners gathered to voice their distaste.

"No more excuses. I don't care why this happened. We need a solution," said one protester.

James Hutchinson is a retiree living on a fixed income. Taxes on his home on the southeast side of Marion County have doubled, leaving he and his wife with tough decisions.

"It just means that we have to just (cut) medicine or something. We're going to have to deny ourselves," Hutchinson said.

After a rally on Pennsylvania Street, protesters went to the governor's residence, where they blocked Meridian Street for the second time in a week.

Residents said they are not upset about paying taxes in general, but they want to know what is behind the large increase and what, if anything, can be done about it.

Another tax protest, dubbed "Black Sunday," is set to take place on Monument Circle on Sunday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m.


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