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http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=46499.27

What Is The Value Of Assessors?
Their future is in question as officials look at ways to cut costs, better state’s property tax system.

Laurie Wink
The News-Dispatch

LA PORTE - Controversy swirls around proposals to change Indiana's property tax system, with delays in property tax bills and many unhappy with the property assessment system.

Gov. Mitch Daniels has proposed eliminating all 1,008 elected county and township assessors.

His plan calls for streamlining the assessment process by having a single appointed assessor in each of Indiana's 92 counties selected by county councils. That selection would be on the basis of professional skills and experience, rather than having elected assessors.

Howard Conley has been trustee assessor in Springfield Township for 29 years and says the system provides valuable services to residents. Conley isn't against combining some smaller townships. But if county and township assessors are cut, the concern is townships could disappear.

"The Governor would like to eliminate township government all together," Conley said. "But you're not going to have volunteer firemen. They won't stay. In order to maintain fire protection, you will have to go to paid firemen. Where's that going to save money?"

The Indiana Assessors Association opposes Daniels' plan. While the governor would trim the number of statewide assessors to 92, the assessor group is recommending even fewer; one appointed assessor for 10 regions in the state.

Assessors have received the brunt of criticism for late tax bills and increased assessment figures. They want to change the public perception by having supervisors in the 10 regions report to the Indiana Department of Revenue, in an attempt to produce more consistent property assessments.

The IAA also would add one certified, experienced assessor in each region who would be selected by and report to the regional supervisors. This approach may eliminate all of the state's elected township assessors.

The Indiana Township Association Inc., created to support trustees and assessors, represents more than 750 of the state's 1,008 townships. The organization is preparing to fight efforts to do away with township government.

Of La Porte County's 21 townships, only the three largest - Center, Coolspring and Michigan - have full time assessors. The other 18 townships have elected officials serving as assessors and trustees.

Mike Schultz, assessor for Center Township, agrees township assessors bring a wealth of knowledge of local properties.

Schultz said he has been able to work well with the Nexus Group consultants hired to handle property values. He added his familiarity with Center Township gives him an edge consultants don't have when determining property values.

To boost the professional competency of township assessors, the state two years ago required all township assessors to become certified as Level 1 of Level 11 assessors.

But Conley says things haven't changed all that much.

"It's like before," Conley said. "There are good township assessors and those who don't care if they do a thing. That's what makes it bad for all of us."

The veteran township official does not like the move to more centralized and privatized government services being pushed by Daniels.

"I voted for him, but he's dead on arrival in the next (election)," Conley said.

Contact Laurie Wink at lwink@thenewsdispatch.com.