Final Vote on the Property Tax Bill Expected Thursday
STATEHOUSE — A final vote on the property tax bill is expected Thursday. Wednesday the House of Representatives and its members spent hours debating, passing and defeating some amendments.
One that passed, which was endorsed by Gov. Mike Braun, which was Amendment 36, would provide for a $300 tax credit each year for property owners. That is $100 more than was passed by the House Ways and Means Committee Monday.
Braun originally wanted a reset to values from 2021.
The governor has been in negotiations with the House and Senate on the amendment, which passed 70-27.
Rep. Gregory Porter, a Democrat from Indianapolis, presented several amendments, which failed along party lines, one of which would provide some relief for renters.
“There are over half a million renters in the State of Indiana. But, Senate Bill 1 does nothing for those renters, those individuals that we want to get into that home ownership area,” he said. “This is a way, we give them that deduction, they can save money, they can put money away to become homeowners.”
Porter’s amendment called for a $3,000 deduction.
Rep. Sue Errington of Muncie, also a Democrat, opposed an amendment to dissolve the Union School District in east Indiana in July 2027.
“What has happened to transparency that something as monumental for this community to suddenly find that this school district is being dissolved,” she asked, after some debate on the matter.
The bill, which is considered controversial not just because of all the amendments, but because it is essentially an altered and gutted version of what was originally put forth, is supported mostly by Republicans and opposed by Democrats.
