If It Sounds Too Good...

This week, taxpayers in Indiana will read promising headlines like, " Daniels announces property-tax plan" and assume that their angst about the property tax will disappear. But one doesn't have to read very far to know that Governor Daniels' proposal is an empty promise for low-and middle-income taxpayers. He is proposing $1 billion in property tax relief by 2009, but the relief comes at a steep price in the form of raising the state sales tax by 1 percent and capping homeowner property taxes at 1 percent of assessed value. Property tax caps are a long proven foe for taxpayers with less ability to pay. For more on property tax caps check out ITEP's policy brief.