BLOOMINGTON — Senate Bill 1 will drastically reform Indiana's tax laws and cut property taxes. Bloomington leaders believe it cuts too deep for the city to function properly.
Bloomington Mayor Kerry Thomson led a discussion about Senate Bill 1's potential affects, which also included several Monroe County politicians. They said the state tax changes are an unprecedented challenge to Bloomington's budget.
"What I hear from the people of Bloomington, all of whom got our property tax bill in the mail last week, is, 'Wow, this hurts,'" Thomson said.
"Because the state legislators who supported SB1 were too cowardly — and yes, I choose that word purposefully — to do their jobs, local governments are going to have to raise local income taxes to make up deficits," Monroe County Commissioner Jody Madeira said. "We're not going to have a choice."
A full house of constituents and government employees listened to the presentation at the Monroe Convention Center Wednesday morning.
Longtime Bloomington resident George'ann Cattelona was in the crowd. She is frustrated the city has to make changes because of decisions at the state level.
"It can feel like things are so far out of my control that I, along with my neighbors, have to figure out what that means for us," Cattelona said. "Sometimes I want to grab state lawmakers by the collars and say, 'Hey, have you thought about this? You made some decisions and we don't really like the consequences of those decisions.'"
Thomson said Bloomington will do what it can to maintain its current budget after the loss of property tax revenue, but its options are likely limited.
"The city's local income taxes in this bill are now approved by the county," Thomson said. "The city no longer has control over that."
Both city and county lawmakers say it will be challenging to handle Senate Bill 1's effect on their operations.
"We are essentially policy making in a sea during the perfect storm," Madeira said. "We need to call on our state officials to go back into session and help out our local communities. The local communities can not do this alone."
-
Marian University football season cut short due to eligibility violation
Marian University's football season has been cut short after the NAIA withdrew the program from the NAIA Football Championship Series due to an eligibility violation.
100-year-old IU football fan celebrates historic winning season
Dr. Phyllis Grant, one of the first women to graduate from the IU School of Medicine, has weathered decades of losing seasons from her home near Lincoln Avenue and South Main Street in New Castle.
Mother's boyfriend accepts plea deal in death of 5-year-old Kinsleigh Welty
Ryan Smith, the boyfriend of Kinsleigh Welty's mother, has accepted a guilty plea for neglect resulting in death of a dependent in connection with the 5-year-old's death in April 2024.
Redistricting bill passes in Indiana House, setting up high-stakes Senate fight
Indiana state House Republicans passed a new state congressional map Friday, advancing the legislation to the state Senate.
