Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Thursday, October 4, 2007
(INDIANAPOLIS) - An Indiana Chamber of Commerce poll finds 56-percent of Hoosiers consider Indiana’s property tax situation a “crisis.”
But they still don't want to see other taxes raised to relieve the pressure.
The Chamber's 15th annual issues poll finds Hoosiers oppose reducing property taxes through income taxes, 44-to-40-percent. A similarly slim margin, 39-to-36-percent, would rather keep their current property taxes than abolish them by raising income and sales taxes.
President Kevin Brinegar says the chamber hasn't ruled out supporting a tax swap, but the poll reinforces the group's plan to focus on spending controls. In particular, the chamber will step up its support for eliminating layers of local government.
76-percent of those surveyed supported an overhaul of local government, but the lengthy background leading up to the question described local government as full of "unnecessary layers (which) add up to great inefficiency and higher costs."
One problem in trying to give voters the spending cuts they want: nearly half those surveyed blame *state* spending for rising property taxes.
The state only collects a fraction of a percent in property taxes, for the state fair. Only 37% knew schools receive the largest share of property taxes.
The poll was conducted by a Florida firm and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.5%.
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