INDIANAPOLIS - A group of Republican senators is focusing on property tax problems on the north side of Indianapolis. 

The senators are planning a study of escalating home assessments, particularly in Senate District 30, represented by Republican Scott Schneider.

Schneider, who's involved in an election campaign against Tim Delaney, is one of the three senators planning the study. 

The senators say they're concerned that assessments are rising faster than anticipated and that is partially canceling out the benefits gained from capping tax rates.
 
The senators want the State Department of Local Government Finance and the Legislature's Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy to determine what's causing the problem and if assessments are being used to manipulate the tax caps.

"The concern that has arisen is whether any of those assessed valuations in certain geographic areas, certain neighborhoods, are out of whack with other neighborhoods in Marion County," said Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek.
Schneider said if the study shows it's warranted, he will introduce legislation in 2013 to put a circuit breaker on assessments.