Property tax confusion

As this Fort Wayne Journal Gazette editorial from Sunday points out, one of the most maddening elements of Indiana's property tax system is its complexity. Because each taxing district is made up of multiple units, there is a lack of direct accountability. The General Assembly has made some improvements in this area; today's Indy Star contains an oblique reference to SEA 1 from 2004 in an article about control over the Marion County library's budget. However, there is still a long way to go to bring real transparency for Hoosier taxpayers.

“It is very difficult for people to take a look and see where their taxes are going,” said Steve Johnson, president of the Indiana Fiscal Policy Institute, the non-partisan, non-profit agency that examines Indiana’s tax and budget systems. “You don’t have any one particular place where there is authority and responsibility.”