Daniels Proposes Tax Relief Options

INDIANAPOLIS -- Gov. Mitch Daniels on Saturday proposed some new ideas to help ease the state's property tax crisis.

In a letter sent to lawmakers, Daniels provided several options to help homeowners deal with growing bills, but some of the proposals would require a special session if they are to be enacted.

---

Capitol WatchBlog: Property Tax Crisis

---

Among the proposals, Daniels suggested giving counties flexibility in how to distribute the $300 million in tax relief the General Assembly approved earlier this year.

Counties could provide tax breaks to homeowners as credits on fall bills instead of sending rebate checks later in the year or early next year.

Daniels also proposed what he called a "circuit breaker" that gives counties the option of providing credits for taxpayers whose bills exceeded a certain amount.

Daniels' spokeswoman, Jane Jankowski, said the governor is not saying he will call a special session, but is putting ideas on the table for consideration.

"He wants to keep the ball rolling with options that may be available," Jankowski said.

Statewide, property taxes are projected to increase by an average or 24 percent. Some townships and individual neighborhoods in Marion County have seen increases far above that.