Questions left unanswered
Tom Beckman of Prairie Farmer and I were two of the ag journalists who participated in the Lt. Governor Debate last week at the Indiana State Fair. I have written about the debate in my on-line commentary Change: Is It Really What We Want? Beckman has posted a column on the Prairie farmer web site that deals with how the candidates dealt, or didn’t deal, with the property tax issue.
“Neither candidate had concrete answers for how to further improve the property tax system to relieve farmers of what may be an unfair share of the burden. Oxley hinted that the property tax debacle stemmed from failure to act in the Republican-controlled House in ‘05. Skillman pointed out that several property tax levies were totally removed, and that farmers are also homeowners, and that as such, they should see relief on that portion of their property tax bill this year. After the debate, farmers in the crowd commented to Beckman that while that might be so, the higher value on assessed bare farmland was resulting in higher tax bills. From reports so far, while increases are variable county to county, farmers who also own land are seeing 20 to 30% increases in their overall property tax bill.”
The property tax issue is causeing problems for the Daniels campaign in farm country. One campaign official told me they are having trouble solidifying farmer support because of the property tax issue. It seems most producers are very pleased with how the Governor has addressed agriculture but are not happy with the tax solution.
Democrats are quick to make political hay out of this. But keep in mind, the property tax bill was passed with the votes of both Democrats and Republicans. Also keep in mind that it was both parties that got us into this mess in the first place.
The Daniels campaign could lock up the farm vote with the promise to address their property tax concerns.
You can listen to the complete debate at Hoosier Ag Today.