Listed below is legislation that is currently being considered in the 2009 General Assembly. We will denote if these bills or resolutions are taxpayer and citizen friendly or not and whether they should be approved in this legislative session.
HOUSE BILL 1660 & SENATE BILL 479
Establishes regional transportation districts in each of Indiana's 92 counties. RTD boards are appointed local elected officials. Gives RTD's unlimited power to enact county option income taxes, county economic development income taxes, a food and beverage tax, a vehicle registration fee and a special benefits property tax.
VERY TAXPAYER UNFRIENDLY
VOTE NO ON BOTH BILLS
SENATE JOINT RESOLUTION 1
Circuit breaker and other property tax matters. If SJR 1 is approved in 2009, a referendum in 2010 would give voters the opportunity to make the property tax caps (1% for homeowners, 2% for landlords and 3% for businesses) permanent in the Indiana Constitution.
TAXPAYER FRIENDLY
VOTE YES TO APPROVE
SENATE BILL 232
Fines for violation of open-door law. Civil penalties of up to $1,000 for officers and employees of a public agency as well as the agency itself for violating public records and open-door laws.
TAXPAYER & CITIZEN FRIENDLY
VOTE YES TO APPROVE
SENATE BILL 452
Election changes and banning dual-office holders. Moves municipal elections to even-numbered years and school board elections to fall general elections. Consolidates precincts into centralized voting centers. Bans public employees from holding office in the same unit of government in which they work.
TAXPAYER & CITIZEN FRIENDLY
VOTE YES TO APPROVE
SENATE BILL 580
Illegal immigration and E-Verify system. Would require employers to use the federal E-verify system to check workplace eligibility of new hires. Illegal immigration cost the state of Indiana $259 million in 2006 and is expected to rise to $434 million in 2010.
TAXPAYER FRIENDLY
VOTE YES TO APPROVE
HOUSE BILL 1406 & SENATE BILL 512
Elimination of Townships. The township form of government is archaic and needs to be eliminated. Township services can be transferred to the county.
TAXPAYER FRIENDLY
VOTE YES TO APPROVE
Contact your state legislators and ask them to vote in favor of SJR 1, SB 232, SB 452, SB 580, HB 1406 and SB 512. Also ask them to vote against SB 479 and HB 1660 (these are very bad news for taxpayers).
Be aware that any legislation making its way through the General Assembly is subject to many revisions. What was originally proposed may not always be what a final vote is taken on.
Go to this website, http://www.in.gov/apps/lsa/session/billwatch/billinfo, to check on the status of any 2009 proposed legislation.