Brought to you by WBIW News and Network Indiana
Last updated on Wednesday, November 18, 2015
(INDIANAPOLIS) - Indiana counties are seeking help getting property tax dollars from parcels that pay little or nothing.
More than $17 billion in Indiana land is tax exempt because it's religious or government property, forest land, or the property of a nonprofit.
Counties say they're losing money, but Association of Indiana Counties executive director David Bottorff says it's also a fairness issue -- the county has to provide services no matter what. Bottorff says more and more land is being pulled into exempt classifications, as nonprofit hospitals buy up doctor's offices and nursing homes.
The Indiana Hospital Association says that maneuver is both uncommon and officially frowned on. Along with exempt property, more than 300,000 properties pay less than $200 dollars in property taxes.
The House passed a bill this year giving counties the option of setting a $200 minimum tax, but the bill died in the Senate.
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