Local group opposes property tax increase
By Debbie Lowe

For some in the community, the idea of any increase in property taxes at this time is unacceptable. Because the state mandated trending (annual property tax adjustment) and reassessment (done every four years), it seems like a hike in property tax assessment is inevitable.

But when the Carroll County Council proposed another hike in the same tax in July, albeit seemingly slight, it just didn't sit well with some community members. They felt it was too much and too soon coming on the heels of the state mandate. The tax hike proposed by the county council would amount to an $11.65 tax assessment for a property valued at $50,000.

A legal notice printed in the Aug. 16 Comet notified residents of Carroll County that on July 25, 2006, the Carroll County Council "duly adopted a plan whereby a Cumulative Capital Development Fund was established..."

The legal notice continued to explain the fund "will be provided for by a levy of two and thirty-three hundredths cents ($.0233) on each one hundred dollars ($100.00) of taxable real and personal property within the taxing unit beginning in 2006, payable in 2007."

Tax opponents decided to exercise their constitutional right to object. Opponents say this is not a good time to be placing an additional tax burden on property owners.

"It's very premature to ask for more property tax," stated county resident Shirley Inman, one of the opponents.

Inman said the effect of reassessment and trending is an unknown, however she and the others suspect it will significantly increase property taxes owed.

"Enough is enough," said Delphi resident Tom VanSickle. We are objecting to another raise in property taxes."

Noting the council's proposed increase is most probably about building a new jail or renovating the current facility, VanSickle said another funding stream should be explored for any jail facility related project.

"There has to be other ways to finance a project of this magnitude," he explained. "There needs to be more information about the necessity of either a new jail or very costly improvements to the present one. It all comes down to responsibility. The jail should have been maintained over the past several years." The group is not just informally

complaining. They banded together and are organizing a formal objection to the action.

Inman said she expects to gather more than the required 50 names of people opposed to stop the action temporarily. She hopes the petition in circulation will initiate a hearing on the proposed levy with the Department of Local Government Finance.

According to the published notice, anyone wishing to object needs to do that within 30 days of publication.

"We don't want to be made out as being against the council," VanSickle said. "We just oppose another raise in property tax right now."