This morning during the Senate Elections committee, the Senate Republicans released their proposed state senate and congressional maps. The committee recessed, and no public input was taken. The committee will reconvene on Wednesday afternoon to hear testimony.
The Senate Tax and Fiscal Committee voted to move SJR 1 – a proposal to place already enacted property tax caps in the state constitution – for further consideration by the full Senate. The vote was 9 to 3, with three Senate Democrats voting against the measure.
State Senator Tim Skinner of Terre Haute told the committee the caps are currently in statute and those who are going to benefit are already doing so. He said the amendment is being sold to the public as a tax savings but he questions that assertion, citing the increase in sales tax, user fees, and local income taxes. He says this is merely a tax shift and that the state should not rush to put the language into the state constitution.
Listen to Skinner’s statement:
State Senator John Broden of South Bend says he applauds the intent of reducing the reliance on property taxes, but he does not believe that this plan targets the relief to the homeowner as intended. Broden noted recent figures that indicate only 4% of the relief from property tax caps is going to homeowners.
The Gaming Study Committee approved a report today that indicates a land-based casino in Gary could generate an additional wagering tax of about $11M. State Senator Earline Rogers of Gary says she intends to file legislation that will put together the findings of the gaming study committee announced today, including moving one riverboat casino license inland and returning the city’s second riverboat casino license to the state. The plan is targeted at maximizing the asset for Gary and the state. Continue reading ‘News: Study committee approves Gary land-based casino’
