The Department of Local Government Finance gets a new commissioner and, about 10 days later, 71 counties get letters demanding assessment data. According to an article by Lesley Stedman Weidenbener, the letters threatened to “withhold tax-relief payments, block construction projects and take other action” if the data is not received. First of all, if it’s 71 counties, it sounds like it’s a state problem and not particularly a local problem. Secondly, according to the article, many of the counties appear to think they’re either in compliance or had worked out new deadlines with the State due to having to cope with big changes in the assessment system. County officials appear to be expressing some frustration with the State. But, as they say, it all runs down hill. The Governor gets it from the public. The Governor kicks it down to the DLGF. The DLGF kicks it down to the Counties. Now we’ll just have to see if the Counties can keep it moving. Sooner or later, it’ll probably get back to the public like a big old property tax assessment ouroboros.
Hunter being brilliant again
Dave Certo named Marion County Judge
Governor Daniels appointed Dave Certo to replace Judge Cale Bradford as a Judge of the Marion Superior Court. Looks like it’s been a big month for Dave — unless it’s another Dave Certo that showed up on the Google search, he and his wife had a baby boy on July 9. Congratulations Dave!
Taking Down Words does not have kind words for him, but I can’t start slagging him because we played together some as kids. I think our Dads were friends. I don’t think I’ve had much to do with him since we were 5 years old or so, but I seem to recall he had a toy gun with plunger tipped darts of which I was envious.
We can hope that, unlike Judge Bradford, he won’t go after the Wiccans without cause. We Richmondites are usually pretty level headed folks. . . uh, Jim Jones notwithstanding.
Mug
More name narcissism from yours truly. Actually, my wife was kind enough to make this for me. It’s nice and big to hold copious amounts of coffee, my caffeine delivery system of choice.
Reassessments in 3 more counties
In his accustomed style of shooting first, asking questions later, Governor Daniels has decided to order reassessments in Gibson, Posey, and Delaware Counties, the hearings that are required to precede such an order will take place later. As I mentioned earlier, the Governor does not have the authority to order a reassessment. That power resides with the Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF), but as the head of the DLGF, Cheryl Musgrave, has been there for less than a month, it’s reasonable to conclude she is essentially a rubber stamp for the Governor at this point. However, where the DLGF suspects reassessment is necessary, they are supposed to hold hearings before making a determination. These hearings would seem particularly necessary since the DLGF seems not to have indicated prior disapproval of these counties’ assessments — a hearing should focus on what changed to suddenly make these assessments unacceptable. From the news stories, it seems Gov. Bonaparte is declaring reassessment by fiat. He’s never been real interested in the pesky bureaucratic details of democracy. I have not seen a determination on whose taxes are going to pay for these reassessments.
Also, and this could have everything to do with my ignorance as opposed to evidence of further disregard for the details of the law, the Governor is ordering that the property taxes for these counties be frozen at 2006 levels for the time being. I’d be interested to know where the Governor gets the authority to do this.
Morgan County volunteers as guinea pig
God bless our fellow citizens in Morgan County. According to an article in the Indianapolis Star, they went ahead and adopted the local option income taxes authorized by the General Assembly as tools to offset reliance on property tax. The income tax imposed as a result of these increases will be 1.45%. They chose all three options offered by the General Assembly. According to the article:
Option #1 is a 0.2% income tax and it will pay for the increased cost of government in 2007/2008 from the previous year.
Option #2 is a 1% income tax and it will be used to offset current reliance on property taxes – in other words, it ought to reduce property taxes.
Option #3 (available to local governments only if options #1 and #2 are adopted) is a 0.25% income tax which will be used to fund local public safety expenses.
The article does not say, but I believe Option #2 also required a decision by the county as to whether the property tax relief would be directed to all property owners; homeowners only; or homeowners and rental-housing owners.
The women in my life
Just had to pass along this comment.
Over at our Family Blog, my wife Amy was describing someone’s blank stare as being like her looking at me when I jabber on about history. In response, my former legal assistant said, “Doug’s mind is a scary place. I use to just pretend to know what he was talking about…I think he knew I was pretending.”
They don’t know the half of it.
Newsflash: Bush policies have increased al Qaeda power in Middle East
I think George Bush is rhetorically shooting himself in the foot with his recent speech about how we shouldn’t leave Iraq because al Qaeda is there.
“The facts are that Al Qaeda terrorists killed Americans on 9/11, they’re fighting us in Iraq and across the world and they are plotting to kill Americans here at home again,†Mr. Bush told a contingent of military personnel here. “Those who justify withdrawing our troops from Iraq by denying the threat of Al Qaeda in Iraq and its ties to Osama bin Laden ignore the clear consequences of such a retreat.â€
Very good, genius. The folks who attacked us on 9/11 didn’t have any influence in Iraq before we invaded. Now they do. Since you and your brain trust gave al Qaeda this little Iraqi gift basket in the first place, why in the world should we trust you to make any decent decisions going forward? Maybe we should take the Zippo away from the guy who insists on pouring gas everywhere.
At the very least, instead of “sharp criticism” for those who oppose him, perhaps Mr. Bush could at least apologize for messing things up so badly.
Sex offender residency restrictions
In Lafayette, a John Doe is seeking relief from sex offender residency restrictions imposed by the General Assembly. The restrictions prohibit certain registered sex offenders from living within 1,000 feet of school property, public parks, or youth centers. I can’t talk too much about the issue, but from this Journal and Courier article, I’ll just say that Sheriff Brown’s attorney makes a heck of an argument.
Immigration cartoon
The Hoosier Pundit has posted a political cartoon on immigration (and, ostensibly, on the Fairness Doctrine). It’s a cartoon and mostly for laughs, so I won’t get too worked up about it, but the cartoon turns such a blind eye to the historical context of the time, I felt like commenting.
It has Paul Revere and his Fairness Doctrine mandated counterpart (FDMC) on a horse –
Revere: THE BRITISH ARE COMING!
FDMC: “No they’re not”
Revere: THE BRITISH ARE COMING!
FDMC: “To do jobs we colonists won’t.”
Revere: THE BRITISH ARE COMING!
FDMC: “Paul Revere is a bigot.”
————–
The irony* of the cartoon is that one of the charges against King George by the colonists in the Declaration of Independence was that he was too tough on immigration:
He has endeavoured to prevent the population of these States; for that purpose obstructing the Laws for Naturalization of Foreigners; refusing to pass others to encourage their migrations hither, and raising the conditions of new Appropriations of Lands.
*(I’m not an English major so I’m not sure if that’s real irony or just Alanis Morissette irony.)
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