An e-mail update from State Representatives Phyllis Pond and Matt Bell:
(January 19, 2010) The first week of session was filled with hard work culminating in the passage of several important pieces of legislation. The week began with votes passage of two landmark bills both permanent property tax caps and ethics reform passed out of the House. As the week progressed, I heard many bills in committees and on the House floor. I look forward to the continuation of hard work and efficiency throughout the rest of session.
Permanent Property Tax Caps
Last Monday, we passed House Joint Resolution 1 by a final vote of 75-23 to provide Hoosiers with meaningful, permanent property tax protection. HJR1 will now move to the Senate for debate and a vote.It didn’t take the Senate long to start working on passing HJR1 through their chamber. Later in the week, HJR1 began its journey through the Senate and passed out of the Senate’s Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee.
The constitutional amendment now moves to the full Senate and is expected to pass as early as next week. If the constitutional amendment to permanently cap property taxes passes both chambers of the Indiana General Assembly during the 2010 legislative session, the issue will be on the November 2010 ballot. Then Hoosier voters will have the opportunity and final say on whether or not to add permanent property taxpayer protection to the constitution.
Referendum on Township Trustees
In an effort to provide Hoosiers with an opportunity to voice their opinion on township government, the House passed House Bill 1181. The bill would allow voters in each of Indiana’s 1,008 townships to vote on whether or not to keep their local township trustees and boards, or transfer their duties to county government. The bill passed by a vote of 54-44.Earlier in the week the House heard amendments on HB1181; two amendments were added to the bill. One clarified language to be used on the ballot, and the second prohibits township government officials from employing immediate family members in the township office.
This is another example of giving Hoosiers a chance to make decisions regarding township government through local referendums. This measure has the potential to be the beginning of real reform at the local level to offer services to Hoosiers in the most efficient way possible.
Four Star School Award
Aboite, Deer Ridge and Whispering Meadows Elementary Schools, Carroll Middle School and Homestead Senior High School were all awarded with the Four Star School Award, which is the state’s highest honor for schools.Congratulations to Aboite, Deer Ridge, Whispering Meadows, Carroll and Homestead! Keep up the good work
As always, I am honored to represent you and I hope you have taken the time to fill out the survey you received in December. The more feedback I get from you the easier it is to serve you and to fight for the things you care about during session.
You can also fill the survey out online.
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