By Johnny Kincaid
Citizens are still struggling with the rise in property values last year that led to increased property tax bills, even with no change in the tax rate. Given that most complaints about taxes last year centered on these property tax bills, candidate Mike Braun pledged to provide tax relief to property owners, particularly farmers who faced higher appraisals for every acre they owned.
Now, as governor, Braun is advocating for property tax reductions via Senate Bill 01, causing local government entities to cry foul. Property taxes constitute a substantial portion of the revenues for cities, counties, and school corporations. Reducing property taxes diminishes local income without affecting state tax revenues.
Evansville and Vanderburgh County officials held a press conference earlier this week to draw attention to the impact that SB 01 will have on local revenue. The press conference was an exercise in hyperbole and worst-case scenarios. The fearmongering by the mayor, the school superintendent, and a county commissioner was hard to believe.
First, it was stated that the first year reduction in revenue for the city would amount to 12% of the property tax revenues collected, roughly about $7.6 million. This is not 12% of total city revenue; they chose to state it this way to make it seem more “devasting.” We asked a representative of the mayor what percentage of the total income this figure reflected and have not received an answer.
At the press conference, it was implied that the city and county would have to cut essential services; the police chief, fire chief, and sheriff were on hand to add to the fear that emergency response would suffer. If the first cuts will be police and fire protection, then the priorities are all wrong. In a budget of hundreds of millions of dollars, aren’t there some other places where we can make cuts before impacting safety? In a worst-case scenario, couldn’t we tap into the $2.5 million in interest from the American Rescue Act funds to cover essentials instead of a new city website?
Everyone knew this tax plan was coming. Braun talked about it on the campaign trail and made it one of his first priorities as governor. Our leaders could have worked on some proactive belt tightening instead of reactive hand-wringing.
Perhaps our community leaders should examine the city’s current debt level and halt future high-ticket projects that will cost us money for generations to come.
FOOTNOTE: This article was posted by the CCO without bias, opinion, or editing.
Make do like the average working American family does. ……….look around all demoncrat run cities are WITHOUT a DOUBT $hit holes ………
The democrat pushback against against increases in gas, electricity, water and sewers cost, were luke warm at best. There’s nothing that energizes democrats like a tax reduction for citizens. We are experiencing Panic pedaling 101.
Evansville needs a DOGE to find all the construction and corruption kickbacks in our city …….Without A Doubt …….
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