INDIANAPOLIS -- Officials statewide and in Marion County get back to work on Monday to find ways to deal with Indiana's property tax crisis.

A special commission meeting began at 9 a.m. Monday at which the public could ask questions about the state's situation, 6News' Julie Pursley reported. It's the first in a series of public hearings scheduled throughout the summer and fall on the issue.

The Commission on State Tax and Finance Policy is holding the hearings. The group, made up of both Republicans and Democrats in the House and Senate, will look at the causes of property tax increases and search for short and long-term solutions.

Local and state officials were invited to attend, along with community members. Beech Grove Mayor Joe Wright said he planned to present his own ideas.

"There's two ways you offset property taxes. One is by taking local option income tax, which is income based, which is a more fair system, and sales tax, which is a consumption-based system," Wright said. "You replace property tax dollars with those tax dollars so that you can continue to provide good public safety."

The 9 a.m. meeting took place at the Government Center South, at 402 W. Washington St.

Sen. Luke Kenley, who chairs the commission, said the meeting will run as long as needed to ensure that everyone's opinion is heard.