Gov. Braun continues property tax push as bill advances

By GARRETT BERGQUIST
WISH-TV | wishtv.com

Braun

Gov. Mike Braun on Thursday said he still expects lawmakers will “get to a good place” on his property tax cut.

The governor’s remarks to an Americans for Prosperity event came two days after a state Senate committee approved a scaled-down version of Braun’s property tax relief plan. Braun told the crowd he campaigned on property tax relief and remains committed to it.

“We’re right in the middle with wrestling with that. I campaigned on it, made it an issue and we’ll get to a good place,” he said.

Braun’s original plan would have given homeowners the option of resetting their property taxes to 2021 levels or taking a new deduction. The latest version expands deductions for homeowners aged 65 and older and disabled veterans but does not include any new deductions for anyone else. It also caps year-over-year tax levy increases. Senate Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee Chair Sen. Travis Holdman, R-Markle, said on Tuesday that decision was an effort to balance the needs of homeowners with the need for local governments to fund basic services.

Lt. Gov. Micah Beckwith, who also spoke at the Americans for Prosperity event, said he personally would like to see the option of resetting property taxes to 2021 levels restored to the bill.

“If the bill goes over to the House, then we’ll start working the House to make sure that whatever happens is the best possible outcome for everyday Hoosiers,” he said.

The Senate on Thursday voted down several floor amendments to the bill, including one from Sen. Fady Qaddoura, D-Indianapolis, to expand the renters’ exemption for property taxes and one from Sen. Michael Young, R-Indianapolis, to eliminate all property taxes for homeowners aged 65 and over. It still needs a final up-or-down vote before it can go to the House.

Senate President pro tempore Rod Bray, R-Martinsville, said the bill as it currently stands reflects the wishes of Senate Republicans. He said his caucus takes seriously local governments’ concerns the original bill would have jeopardized local police, fire and street repair services.

“It’s a balance because we’ve also heard very directly from homeowners that sometimes there’s a pain point there and the property tax is too much, and that’s why we’re having this conversation,” he said. “We need to provide meaningful relief to homeowners.”

Senate Minority Leader Shelli Yoder, D-Bloomington, said Senate Democrats are still deciding how they feel about the bill given the short time that has passed since the bill was changed in committee. She said Senate Republicans’ rejection of Qaddoura’s amendment represents a lost opportunity to help the large number of renters in the state.

“We want to bring real relief to Hoosiers and we focused that effort on some of the amendments we heard on the floor today,” she said. “We are frustrated, but we’re going to continue to work in good faith to get real relief to Hoosiers.”

This story was originally published by WISH-TV at wishtv.com/news/gov-braun-continues-property-tax-push-as-bill-advances.