HB 1027 – Township Assessors
Authored by Rep. Karen Engleman (R-Georgetown)
Abolishes the office of township assessor, effective January 1, 2023. Transfers the duties of the township assessor to the county assessor of the county in which the township is located. Provides that if the office of township assessor becomes vacant before January 1, 2023, the office is abolished and the duties of the township assessor are transferred to the county assessor.
Chamber position: Support
The latest: Passed by the House Government and Regulatory Reform Committee 7-5.
The primary author, Rep. Engleman, is a former county auditor and spoke to the benefit of the county assessor assuming the assessing duties in the remaining 13 townships (in nine counties) where separate township assessors continue to be elected. Three township assessors testified in opposition and there was some discussion regarding the fact that more than 10 years ago these assessors were retained by virtue of a referendum. Some committee members sought consideration of inserting a new referendum requirement in the bill. However, there was considerable testimony supporting this outright elimination, and the bill was ultimately passed unamended.
Indiana Chamber action/commentary: Our testimony emphasized the need for this bill in order to improve the consistency and uniformity of assessments within a county and pointed to the likelihood that it would result in greater efficiencies and save taxpayer dollars. We also focused on the historical documentation of the benefits that were realized when the vast majority of township assessors (with fewer number of parcels) were abolished by legislative fiat in 2008.
Resource: Bill Waltz at (317) 264-6887 or email: bwaltz@indianachamber.com
