The Herald Bulletin
ANDERSON, Ind. —
A few months ago in Delaware County, the mayor of Muncie sued the county commissioners in a dispute over 911 funds.
A similar distribution dispute apparently exists in Madison County.
The South Madison Community School Corp. at Pendleton is suing the county for $1.5 million that the district claims it is owed from 2008 property tax collections.
The defendants include the county commissioners, county assessor and assessors in Fall Creek and Anderson townships. Including a successful appeal from the state, the lawsuit is really seeking about $721,000.
The real source of irritation, though, may be in how real estate was assessed in Fall Creek Township for 2007 and 2008.
We’ve heard of these problems before. In May, Madison County Assessor Cheryl Heath noted an increase in property owners appealing their assessments — up to 1,500 in 2009. The county board responsible for appeals was hearing nearly 200 cases a month. At the time, the board consisted of Heath, two deputy assessors and two real estate agents.
In June, we heard that software issues were sending out incorrect tax bills to owners of rental property. The state’s Department of Local Government Finance noted that it was the largest miscalculation of those type of tax bills in Indiana. At the time, the problem centered on incorrect data given to the auditor by the assessor’s office.
Madison County taxpayers should be growing weary of these perceived miscalculations from a government office.
Property owners are struggling enough to pay other bills. And now, it seems, a school corporation could have been shortchanged by another “miscalculation.”
School corporations struggle with maintaining staff and programs. South Madison was no exception as it faced budget cuts earlier this year.
The lawsuit, while unfortunate, is entirely appropriate. Perhaps this is one step toward resolving larger tax formula (i.e. software) issues that are confusing to taxpayers. The outcome could affect us all, and perhaps lead to better government service.
