Braun suggests he’d veto property tax proposal in its current form

By GARRETT BERGQUIST
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

Gov. Mike Braun on Wednesday said he’s “likely” to veto the property tax package and call a special session if he doesn’t believe it provides enough relief.

Braun

When the Senate passed Senate Bill 1, the legislation containing Braun’s property tax relief plan, on Monday, it did so without including a provision to allow all homeowners to either reset their property tax rates to 2021 levels or take a 60 percent deduction. The Senate’s package still includes expanded tax deductions for low-income seniors and disabled veterans, plus a tax credit for first-time homebuyers with an income of less than $75,000 who buy a house assessed at less than $250,000. It also limits the rate at which a property tax levy approved through a referendum can grow.

In a statement posted to social media on Tuesday, Braun said the legislation slows down how fast bills will increase, but doesn’t cut taxes for homeowners hit hardest by inflation. During a Wednesday news conference, he said local governments know how much costs and taxes increased since 2021. He said local governments and school districts need to take a hard look at what expenses over the past four years have truly been necessary and be honest with taxpayers about those findings.

“When you ask the taxpayer to do more than what they can afford, you’re going to hear an uproar like we did over the last two years,” Braun said.

When News 8 asked Braun if he would consider either vetoing SB 1 if it reaches his desk in its current form or calling a special session over property taxes, the governor replied, “If it doesn’t improve, I’m likely to do both of them depending on what you need to do to actually get real relief.”

The House has not yet held its own hearings on SB 1. Senate President pro tempore Rod Bray, R-Martinsville, said last week SB 1 reflects the Senate’s wishes as things currently stand, but his caucus is willing to continue working with the Braun administration on the bill.

Braun had kinder words for the budget bill the House finalized Wednesday and will vote on Thursday. The budget approved by House Republicans adds extra funding for the Department of Correction and Department of Child Services, but otherwise largely follows the governor’s requests. He said based on the House’s spending plan, Indiana will be in a good financial position regardless of spending decisions at the federal level.

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/politics/braun-suggests-hed-veto-property-tax-proposal-in-its-current-form.