Letter From Michael Rodman:
As the Marion County Treasurer I want to apologize for the confusion surrounding the recently mailed property tax statements which subsequently were determined to be in error. It is important to provide some clarification concerning these statements.
Per state statute it is the state's duty to certify property tax rates. State statute also prescribes the dates when township officials are to submit assessed values, when the values are provided to the state, and when the state is to provide their certified rates to the county.
These dates were created to facilitate reasonable periods for each unit of government to perform its respective responsibilities. When dates or deadlines are missed it creates a climate for error. It is my understanding that several deadlines were missed. In March, the county auditor found errors in the state's rates and requested revisions. My office printed and mailed the property tax statements based on the revised calculations provided.
Following the statement's printing and mailing it was again determined that the rate provided by the state was still incorrect. My office will send out an adjusted fall property tax statement that credits any over-charge from the spring statement. Given the errors already discovered, this will provide time for any further errors to be found and corrected.
A more important reason for printing and mailing an adjusted fall statement is that the only countywide error on the homestead credit is an amount that most callers have told us is not the major amount they had expected. Tax rates in some townships have risen significantly causing hundreds of dollars in increased taxes. However, the "homestead error" is approximately a $20 overpayment on a tax statement of $1,000. Without knowing this amount, homeowners have reasonably concluded that the "homestead error" caused the dramatic increase in property taxes.
My greatest concern is to seek an immediate solution that is the most fair and fiscally responsible option for the homeowner. Likewise, for the longer term it is critical to assess the processes by which the rates are calculated and to seek enforcement of timelines per our states' statutes. We need never experience this type of error again if all officials work together and meet their deadlines.
Respectfully,
Michael W. Rodman
What is the impact of the Homestead Error on my bill?
The Spring amount, shown in blue below, reflects the amount overstated on your spring installment. Homes with assessed values of $200,000, $100,000, and $70,000 are used as examples:
Assessed Value / Homestead Eligible Amount:
$ 200,000.00
$ 100,000.00
$ 70,000.00
Deductions:
$ 35,000.00
Net Assessed Value:
$165,000.00
$ 65,000.00
District
DistrictName
Full Year
Spring
101
Indianapolis, Center
86.12
43.06
33.92
16.96
18.27
9.14
102
Beech Grove, Center
82.08
41.04
32.33
16.17
17.41
8.71
200
Decatur, Outside
53.23
26.62
20.97
10.49
11.29
5.65
300
Franklin, Outside
50.25
25.13
19.80
9.90
10.66
5.33
400
Lawrence, Outside
52.09
26.05
20.52
10.26
11.05
5.53
407
City of Lawrence
63.28
31.64
24.93
12.47
13.42
6.71
500
Perry, Outside
51.90
25.95
20.45
10.23
11.01
5.51
502
Beech Grove, Perry
80.37
40.19
31.66
15.83
17.05
8.53
600
Pike, Outside
52.47
26.24
20.67
10.34
11.13
5.57
700
Warren, Outside
56.46
28.23
22.24
11.12
11.98
5.99
800
Washington, Outside
52.74
26.37
20.78
10.39
11.19
5.60
900
Wayne, Outside
68.56
34.28
27.01
13.51
14.54
7.27
What is the problem with the recently-mailed property tax bills for Marion County?
The state Department of Local Government Finance made errors in calculating the homestead rate for properties eligible to take the homestead deduction. They also made errors calculating the Property Tax Replacement Credit for properties in Wayne township districts 900, 908, 930, 970 and 982.
These errors resulted in an overcharge to taxpayers qualifying for these credits. The errors were not discovered until after the bills had been mailed.
Why did my property tax bill increase this year compared to last year?
If you were taking advantage of the homestead credit, at least part of the increase may be due to the overcharge caused by the state's error. If you live in Pike, Wayne, Decatur, Franklin or Lawrence, the increase may be due to higher levies for fire protection. If you live in Washington township the increase is due to a higher school levy. You may contact your township trustee or school district for further details regarding these changes. (These phone numbers are listed below.)
Since there may be an error in the Spring property tax bill I received in the mail, what tax amount should I pay?
Taxpayers should pay the full amount indicated on the bill received in the mail. Adjustments will be made in the Fall bill to credit taxpayer's accounts for any overcharges caused by the errors. Taxpayers paying their annual bill in full will be credited as indicated below. If taxpayers attempt to adjust their Spring bills for any possible overcharge, they will be subject to the standard 10% penalty levied for nonpayment of the taxes when due.
What if I pay my Spring and Fall tax bills in full now? How will I receive the benefit of a credit for paying the Spring overcharge?
The bills for taxpayers who are affected by the errors will be recalculated to reflect the correct rates. Once this process is complete, those taxpayers who paid the full annual bill will be notified via mail and given the option to (1) obtain a refund of the overcharged amount or (2) have the overcharged amount credited toward next year's tax bill.
Township Trustee List