Monday, March 24, 2008
Roche bringing in more jobs.
Roche diagnostics will be adding more jobs to Hamilton County as it expands into the old Marsh Headquarters building in Fishers at 96th st/Hague Rd. The building will hold down 800 jobs for the area, of which, 360 jobs are new additions and 440 are relocated from other Roche buildings. They have signed a 10-year lease with Sun Capital Partners with expected growth through 2011.
Property Tax Billed Signed and Approved
The property tax proposal has finally made it through the house, senate and signed by Governor Daniels. The plan would lower homeowners property taxes an average of 30% statewide. The law will cap taxes on residential property at 1%, rental properties and farmland at 2%, and commercial property at 3%. In accordance to the legislation the sales tax will also be adjusted from 6% to 7% to help offset the difference of property tax lost.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
Consider Daren Sink for HSE/Fishers School Board
As reported by the IndyStar...
As a longtime volunteer coaching kids in the Hamilton Southeastern Schools district, Daren Sink has learned something about himself.
As a longtime volunteer coaching kids in the Hamilton Southeastern Schools district, Daren Sink has learned something about himself.
He's learned that he wants to contribute even more to the development of children, and he thinks he can do that best as a member of the Hamilton Southeastern School Board.
"That is the total reason that I would be involved in this," said Sink, 43. "I just think we have great kids in this school system." Sink is one of two candidates seeking the Fall Creek Township seat now held by Bob Keck. Rusty Allanson also is running in the May 6 election. Keck did not seek re-election.
A lifelong resident of the area, Sink has an office in Fishers as government relations director for New York-based Pfizer Inc. Though he sometimes travels on business, he can't imagine a better place to raise a family. "I've seen a lot with this school district. I've seen it grow. I've seen the kids have success, and I've seen the schools have success," he said, noting his work with the superintendent's advisory council, as a volunteer on Camp Tecumseh outings and an 11-year association with the Southeastern Program of Recreational Team Sports and its Knights football program. "With the growth and the different things coming forward, I want to be part of a group to ensure that we continue with that success and we continue to give these kids opportunities to be successful."
The "things coming" that Sink sees as potential cause for concern include property tax legislation that could reduce monies needed to accommodate growth. He acknowledged that some money may be needed for a third high school -- another issue that could fuel controversy among district residents.
"We need to be very fiscally prudent with what we do with these new schools," said Sink, who would wait to see what property tax law emerges and its effect in conjunction with expected growth before deciding if a third high school is needed.
"I don't think anybody really wants to have a massive high school with 5,000 kids in it," he adds. Whether another high school comes, Sink said more lower-level schools are needed because more kids are coming. "I don't see threats," he said of funding issues. "I see challenges. There's always challenges when there's this many people." As president and secretary of the youth league's football board, Sink is aware of a need to communicate and approach every issue "in terms of what people want."
While working to ensure facilities are adequate, he said, efforts to maintain a high level of academic success also are needed. In that regard, he wants to examine the system's grading scale. "I love HSE Schools," he said. "I think our schools are tremendous, and we put out a good product." It's a winning tradition the coach wants to help continue.
About Sink
About Sink
E-mail: votefordarensink@gmail.com
Occupation: Government relations director, Pfizer Inc.
Education: B.S., Kelley School of Business, Indiana University.
Family: Wife, Rashell, and three sons, Hamilton Southeastern High School junior Craig Sink and sophomore Brandon Sink, and HSE Junior High seventh-grader Connor Sink.
Quote: "We have to support our teachers. Teachers are with these kids all day. We have great teachers here. We just have to continue to . . . bring them into this system if they want to be here. Strong teachers make strong students."
Occupation: Government relations director, Pfizer Inc.
Education: B.S., Kelley School of Business, Indiana University.
Family: Wife, Rashell, and three sons, Hamilton Southeastern High School junior Craig Sink and sophomore Brandon Sink, and HSE Junior High seventh-grader Connor Sink.
Quote: "We have to support our teachers. Teachers are with these kids all day. We have great teachers here. We just have to continue to . . . bring them into this system if they want to be here. Strong teachers make strong students."
Thursday, March 6, 2008
Property Tax Proposal Calculator
Curious how the projected property tax bill will affect your property taxes. Click on the link below for your county and enter your address for an estimate on the proposed changes.
Marion County
Hamilton County
Hendricks County
Johnson County
Marion County
Hamilton County
Hendricks County
Johnson County
Monday, March 3, 2008
Bills in Legislative Limbo
With two weeks left in the session, House and Senate lawmakers head to conference committees, where final deals are brokered
IndyStar, March 3, 2008 on Property tax reform
House Bill 1001
This legislation reflects much of Gov. Mitch Daniels' proposal.
House version Applies caps on property taxes in 2009 based on assessed value. Homeowners' bill would be limited to 1 percent of assessed value, rental properties and farmland at 2 percent, businesses at 3 percent.
Senate version The property tax caps would be phased in so the full impact isn't felt until 2010.
Chances for compromise In an election year, pressure from voters is high for significant property tax relief, so the chances of Republicans and Democrats striking a compromise are good. Look for tough negotiations on the final form of the tax caps and additional benefits for low-income Hoosiers. Widest range of opinions can be found on the question of township assessors: Some want them gone, others want them to remain in urban counties, and keeping all the state's assessors is an option.
Senate version Caps homeowners tax bills at 1 percent of assessed value, rental properties at 2 percent and businesses at 3 percent.
House version Changes the cap for homeowners to 1 percent of household income, but excludes existing debt from the cap, meaning homeowners would pay for that, too, which currently makes up between 25 percent and 33 percent of the average bill.
Chances for compromise Republicans have insisted on a constitutional amendment to ensure any property tax relief is permanent. Democrats have been far less committal. Daniels has threatened a special session if a constitutional amendment is not part of a final package, but both he and House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, said they don't think it will come to that.
IndyStar, March 3, 2008 on Property tax reform
House Bill 1001
This legislation reflects much of Gov. Mitch Daniels' proposal.
House version Applies caps on property taxes in 2009 based on assessed value. Homeowners' bill would be limited to 1 percent of assessed value, rental properties and farmland at 2 percent, businesses at 3 percent.
Voter referendums are exempted for classroom-related projects, requiring them only for recreational projects like swimming pools.
All township assessors are eliminated.
Provides additional help for low-income Hoosiers by doubling the renter's deduction from $2,500 to $5,000 and increases the income tax credit for the working poor from 6 percent to 9 percent.
Senate version The property tax caps would be phased in so the full impact isn't felt until 2010.
Voter referendums required for all major building projects.
All township assessors are left in their jobs unless voters decide in a referendum to shift duties to the county assessor.
Renter's deduction increased from $2,500 to $3,000; no increase in the income tax credit for the working poor.
Chances for compromise In an election year, pressure from voters is high for significant property tax relief, so the chances of Republicans and Democrats striking a compromise are good. Look for tough negotiations on the final form of the tax caps and additional benefits for low-income Hoosiers. Widest range of opinions can be found on the question of township assessors: Some want them gone, others want them to remain in urban counties, and keeping all the state's assessors is an option.
Property tax caps
Senate Joint Resolution 1
Places caps on property tax bills into the state constitution.
Senate version Caps homeowners tax bills at 1 percent of assessed value, rental properties at 2 percent and businesses at 3 percent.
House version Changes the cap for homeowners to 1 percent of household income, but excludes existing debt from the cap, meaning homeowners would pay for that, too, which currently makes up between 25 percent and 33 percent of the average bill.
Chances for compromise Republicans have insisted on a constitutional amendment to ensure any property tax relief is permanent. Democrats have been far less committal. Daniels has threatened a special session if a constitutional amendment is not part of a final package, but both he and House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer, D-South Bend, said they don't think it will come to that.
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