Assessors Create Their Own Consolidation Plan

(posted Oct 10)

Indy Works will not be the only consolidation plan circulating around the State House this year seeking legislative support. Becky Williams, president of The Indiana Assessors Association, has presented a consolidation plan created by township assessors to some state legislators for review.

This plan calls for dividing the state into 10 districts with 340,000 parcels each. Marion County would be a stand alone district. The plan now makes the assessor an appointed position called district assessment supervisor who would report to the Department of Revenue instead of the Department of Local Government Finance.

Wayne Township Assessor Mike McCormack explained that he was tired of fighting Indy Works. If consolidation is going to happen, he preferred to see this plan of consolidation be approved. "I am not worried about losing my job. I am worried about the taxpayer," he said. McCormack thinks the plan will keep an office out in the township.

The appeal process will change. The county commissioners will appoint a three member county board of review to look at appeals. The county assessor, treasurer, and auditor would be forbidden to serve in this capacity.

McCormack said it only made sense to put a revenue generating office like the assessor's office under the Department of Revenue instead of a DLGF that strictly deals with budgets. The assessor would be paid about .25 cents to .35 cents per parcel.

State rep Phil Hinkle said that this plan was very well detailed and that he felt it was a more viable option that Indy Works.