Watchdog Indiana Home Page

Watchdog Indiana provides information about the revenues, spending, and long-term debt assumption of Indiana local and state governments. An online community is established where Hoosier working families come together to help control government growth. This volunteer effort is non-party, non-connected, and non-profit. 

Watchdog Indiana is a good government advocate that focuses on the state and local tax burden of Hoosier working families.
Watchdog Indiana was founded by Aaron Smith on November 14, 2001.

Subscribe!
To receive Watchdog Indiana E-mail Updates, put SUBSCRIBE in the subject line of your E-mail sent to taxless3@comcast.net. There are currently 16,066 Hoosiers in 59 counties who receive E-mail Updates. Since November 14, 2001, 108 general distribution E-mail Updates have been sent.

Candidate Ratings: 2008 General Elections

Please plan to vote in your November 4 general election! Every general election candidate will receive a Watchdog Indiana Candidate Rating. Also, contact information is provided for each of the candidates so you can ask your important election decision questions. All this information can be found by clicking on Candidate Ratings: 2008 General Elections.

  Part of the Solution or Part of the Problem 

The foundation for genuine property tax relief is a meaningful homeowner property tax cap amendment to the Indiana Constitution. A meaningful constitutional homeowner property tax cap will enable Hoosier working families to reasonably predict their property taxes so they do not become an unaffordable burden that could lead to the loss of the family home. A meaningful cap ends the legacy of failure where (1) we suffer permanent tax increases for temporary property tax relief and (2) property tax caps disappear.

Senate Joint Resolution 1 passed the Indiana Senate 40-7 and the Indiana House 79-20 on March 14, 2008, and was signed by the Governor on March 19, 2008. SJR 1 amends the Indiana Constitution to cap homeowners' property tax bills at 1% of assessed value, rental and agricultural property at 2%, and business property at 3%. For property taxes first due and payable in 2012, 90 of Indiana's 92 counties must have a homeowner property tax cap that is 1% of the gross assessed value. Until 2020, existing debt service prior to July 1, 2008, is exempted from the 1% homeowner gross assessed value cap in Lake and St. Joseph counties ONLY. The result of these two existing debt service exemptions equates to a 1.88% homeowner cap in Lake County and a 1.52% homeowner cap in St. Joseph County. The homeowner caps for Lake and St. Joseph counties must become 1% in 2020. 

The exact same version of SJR 1 that passed in 2008 must again pass in the General Assembly in 2009 to put the 1% constitutional homeowner property tax cap amendment on the 2010 ballot. We the people can then vote to make the 1% homeowner property tax cap a permanent part of the Indiana Constitution. 

Never has it been so easy to separate those who are part of the property tax relief solution from those who are part of the property tax spending problem. A General Assembly candidate who pledges to vote in 2009 for the exact same version of SJR 1 that passed in 2008 is part of the solution, otherwise the candidate is part of the problem. The identification of problem solvers versus problem causers is listed next.

  Part of the Solution

Governor: Mitch Daniels.

Indiana Senate  
District 6: Sue Landske (2010 election)     District 7: Brandt Hershman     District 9: Ryan D. Mishler     District 17: Gary Dillon (2010 election)     District 18: Randall Head     District 20: Luke Kenley     District 24: Connie Lawson     District 28: Mike Brinegar, Beverly J. Gard     District 29: Mike Delph (2010 election)     District 30: Teresa S. Lubbers     District 31: James W. Merritt, Jr. (2010 election)     District 32: Patricia L. Miller     District 35: R. Michael Young     District 36: Brent Waltz     District 37: Richard D. Bray     District 44: Brent E. Steele

Indiana House of Representatives

District 1: Fernando Urzua     District 11: Cy Huerter     District 12: George T. Janiec     District 13: Joseph M. Hero     District 14: Catherine Campbell     District 15: Donald J. Lehe     District 19: Andrew Webster     District 22: William J. "Bill" Ruppel     District 24: Richard "Rich" McClain     District 28: Jason Ellis, Jeffrey A. Thompson     District 31: Timothy W. Harris     District 33: Bill J. Davis     District 34: Theodore (Ted) Baker     District 35: L. Jack Lutz     District 39: Jerry Torr     District 40: Nicholas G. Schmutte, Gregory E. Steuerwald     District 43: Ryan J. Cummins     District 45: Bruce A. Borders     District 46: Bob Heaton, Vern Tincher     District 49: Wes Culver     District 51: Richard A. Dodge     District 55: Tom Knollman     District 58: Woody Burton     District 59: Milo Smith     District 65: Eric A. Koch     District 66: Jack R. Gillespie     District 69: David Cheatham     District 72: William C. Cochran     District 75: J. D. Strouth     District 84: Randy L. Borror     District 85: Phyllis J. Pond     District 86: Adam E. Nelson     District 87: Cindy Noe     District 89: Chris J. Swatts     District 90: Michael B. Murphy     District 92: Phillip D. (Phil) Hinkle     District 93: David N. Frizzell     District 94: Chad D. Miller     District 100: John J. Day   

  Part of the Problem

The following Governor, State Representative, and State Senator candidates have indicated that they will be messengers for the property tax spenders by NOT pledging to vote in 2009 for the exact same version of Senate Joint Resolution 1 that passed in 2008. Please contact these candidates and ask them to be part of the solution by pledging to vote in 2009 for the exact same version of Senate Joint Resolution 1 that passed in 2008.  

Governor: Jill Long Thompson.

Indiana Senate  
District 1: Frank Mrvan, Jr. (2010 election)     District 2: Carl L. Dahlin, Jr., Lonnie M. Randolph     District 3: Earline S. Rogers     District 4: Karen Tallian (2010 election)     District 5: Ed Charbonneau, Larry W. Balmer     District 8: Jim Arnold, Allen L. Stevens, Jr.     District 10: John E. Broden      District 11: Joe Zakas (2010 election)      District 12: Don Metzler-Smith, Carlin J. Yoder     District 13: Fred Demske     District 14: Dennis K. Kruse (2010 election)     District 15: Thomas J. Wyss (2010 election)     District 16: David C. Long     District 18: Linda L. Klinck     District 19: Travis Holdman (2010 election)     District 21: Jim Buck (2010 election)     District 22: Ron Alting (2010 election)     District 23: Philip L. (Phil) Boots (2010 election)     District 25: Tim Lanane (2010 election)     District 26: Sue Errington (2010 election)     District 27: Allen E. Paul (2010 election)     District 30: Todd DeGroff     District 32: Ken Kern     District 33: Greg Taylor     District 34: Jean Breaux, James Rainey     District 36: Terry Rice     District 37: Joseph E. Osborn     District 38: Timothy D. (Tim) Skinner (2010 election)      District 39: John M. Waterman (2010 election)     District 40: Leslie O. Compton, Vi Simpson     District 41: Greg Walker (2010 election)     District 42: Warren Goodrich, Jean Leising     District 43: Johnny Nugent (2010 election)     District 44: Matthew S. Colglazier     District 45: James (Jim) Lewis (2010 election)     District 46: Connie Weigleb Sipes (2010 election)     District 47: Richard D. Young, Jr. (2010 election)     District 48: Lindel O. Hume (2010 election)     District 49: Bob Deig (2010 election)     District 50: Vaneta G. Becker            

Indiana House of Representatives

District 1: Linda C. Lawson     District 2: Earl L. Harris     District 3: Charlie Brown     District 4: Larry Chubb, Ed Soliday     District 5: Craig R. Fry     District 6: B. Patrick Bauer     District 7: David L. Niezgodski     District 8: Dale R. Devon, Ryan M. Dvorak     District 9: Scott D. Pelath     District 10: Kenneth M. Kaminski, Charles "Chuck" Moseley     District 11: Dan Stevenson     District 12: Mara Candelaria Reardon     District 13: Chester F. Dobis     District 14: Vernon G. Smith     District 15: Myron M. Sutton     District 16: Douglas L. Gutwein, Bill Reutebuch     District 17: Nancy Dembowski, Mark MacKillop     District 18: David A. Wolkins     District 19: "Shelli" Rochelle VanDenburgh     District 20: Tom Dermody     District 21: Jackie Walorski     District 22: Larry E. Rensberger     District 23: William C. Friend     District 25: Jeb Bardon     District 26: John Polles, Randy Truitt     District 27: Sheila Klinker     District 29: Kathy Kreag Richardson, Joseph L. (Joe) Weingarten     District 30: Ron Herrell     District 31: Joe Pearson     District 32: P. Eric Turner     District 33: Andy Schemenaur     District 34: Dennis Tyler     District 35: LeeAnn Mengelt     District 36: Terri Jo Austin     District 37: Kelly S. Gaskill, Scott E. Reske     District 38: Jacque Clements, Bob Snow     District 39: Rusty Skoog     District 41: Timothy (Tim) Brown, James Stytle     District 42: F. Dale Grubb     District 43: Clyde Kersey     District 44: Nancy A. Michael, Amos P. Thomas     District 45: Rick Marshall     District 47: Ralph M. Foley     District 48: Timothy Neese     District 50: Dan J. Leonard     District 51: Lon Keyes     District 52: Marlin A. Stutzman     District 53: David Baxter, Robert "Bob" Cherry     District 54: Thomas E. (Tom) Saunders     District 56: Phillip C. Pflum     District 57: Sean R. Eberhart     District 59: Rhonda Roush Bell     District 60: Peggy Welch     District 61: Matt Pierce     District 62: Sandra Blanton, Brook Tarr     District 63: John G. Burger, Mark B. Messmer     District 64: Kreg Battles     District 66: Terry Goodin     District 67: Cleo Duncan, Mike Keller     District 68: Robert J. Bischoff     District 70: Tim Hunt, Paul J. Robertson     District 71: Steven R. Stemler     District 72: Edward D. (Ed) Clere     District 73: Steve Davisson, Dennie Oxley     District 74: William Marcrum, Russ Stilwell     District 75: Dennis T. Avery     District 76: W. Trent VanHaaften     District 77: Gail Riecken     District 78: Suzanne Crouch, James Pete Rapp     District 79: Matthew S. Lehman     District 80: Phil GiaQuinta     District 81: Winfield C. Moses     District 82: Jeff Espich     District 83: Matt Bell     District 84: Mark Wehrle     District 86: Edward O. DeLaney     District 87: Pamela Hickman     District 88: Brian C. Bosma     District 89: John F. Barnes     District 91: Robert W. Behning, Timothy J. Huber     District 92: Stephanie DeKemper     District 93: Shayne Merritt     District 94: Cherrish S. Pryor     District 95: John L. Bartlett, Ray G. Shearer     District 96: Lawrence T. Newman, Gregory W. Porter     District 97: Jon Elrod, Mary Ann Sullivan     District 98: William A. Crawford     District 99: Vanessa J. Summers               

Immediate action needed!
05/11/2008: Please contact your November 4 General Assembly candidates and ask them to send their responses to taxless3@comcast.net for the following Watchdog Indiana Candidate Questionnaire:

Did You Know?
06/28/2008: If Watchdog Indiana had enough money, the following TV ad would be run on cable systems throughout Indiana. 

[the graphic below appears on the screen unchanged throughout the ad]

Vote for SJR 1
Vote For Property Tax Caps
Vote for Mitch Daniels

Paid for by Watchdog Indiana
not authorized by any candidate or candidate’s committee

[each line of the script below is read off-screen by a different Hoosier with an ordinary-sounding voice; no slick-voiced announcer-types allowed]

Hoosier working families win next year if our governor leads our General Assembly to pass Senate Joint Resolution 1.

Passing SJR 1 next year would allow we the people to vote in 2010 for a state constitution amendment that permanently caps property taxes at one percent of our home’s value.

We would be protected from shocking property tax increases that threaten our budgets.

Runaway property taxes would not force us to make terrible choices between three meals a day, necessary medicines, and property tax bills.

We would be able to keep the home we worked all our lives to buy.

The cost to our governments would be cut because we can afford to stay in our home.

The property tax relief we were promised from this year’s sales tax increase would not go away.

SJR 1 would also protect other property taxpayers from abuse.

The property tax caps for all apartments and farm land would be lowered to two percent of their value.

The existing business property tax cap of three percent would never be increased.

Farmers and businesses would be able to safely predict their property taxes so they can stay in business.

Finally, SJR 1 would be a great starting point to eliminate some or all property taxes.

There is only one candidate for governor who pledges to lead the General Assembly to pass Senate Joint Resolution 1 next year.

Hoosier working families must vote for Mitch Daniels this year so we the people can vote in 2010 to permanently cap our property taxes.

We all want to protect our homes and jobs.

[end of ad]

Hot Topics.

Indiana General Assembly & Governor Ratings: Watchdog Indiana provides the only ratings of state legislators and the governor based on how their votes on key legislative proposals from 2002 to the present affect the state and local tax burden of Hoosier working families.

Property Tax Assessment Issues: There are those who question the importance of the 1% homeowner property tax cap because the cap is based on the gross assessed value of the homestead property, which is allowed to fluctuate. Homeowner property tax assessments will likely CREEP UP over time, but these assessment increases BY THEMSELVES are NOT expected to cause homeowner property taxes to LEAP UP. In other words, the 1% homeowner property tax cap in Senate Joint Resolution 1 is the foundation for genuine property tax relief even if homeowner property tax assessments increase because of market value increases.

Jeff Thompson Property Tax Reform Plan: The typical Hoosier working family will have its property tax eliminated in return for a variable local income tax of 4.1%. As shown by Accurate Property Tax Math, Hoosier working families already spend 4.1% of their state taxable income to pay their property tax. The Jeff Thompson Property Tax Reform Plan Impact is a real eye-opener!

Property Tax Betrayal & Incompetence: Indiana General Assemblies and Governors have turned a promised 16.3% homeowner property tax reduction in 2003 into a decrease of just 2.4% in four years. Details regarding the betrayal and incompetence over the years are included in the General Assembly Property Tax Legislation.

Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network: If you or someone you know is behind on the mortgage, or even in danger of falling behind, please contact the IFPN, a statewide program to provide free mortgage foreclosure counseling and education to at-risk homeowners. All Network services are free, and all Network counselors are certified by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, or HUD. 

IHCDA University: The Indiana Housing and Community Development Authority has a free online course to educate prospective homebuyers on the home purchasing process.

"Major Moves": The 2006 Indiana House Bill 1008 is Taxpayer UNfriendly because it authorizes a toll road for an I-69 extension between Martinsville and Evansville.

Watchdog Indiana Topics Index
Click here for access to the various Watchdog Indiana web pages related to 25 different topic areas.

You Can Help.
Listed below are several ways you can help control Indiana taxes and spending.

Bookmark this website so you can easily visit Watchdog Indiana often to help learn about state cash revenues, cash spending, and long-term debt assumption.

Suggest projects for Watchdog Indiana to adopt. Please send an E-mail if you know of something that needs the attention of Watchdog Indiana.

Register to vote. The 2008 Indiana Voter Information Guide tells how and where to register to vote.

Visit the Indiana General Assembly & Governor Ratings for a candidate's rating when voting for State Representatives and State Senators.

E-mail to the Editor of your local newspaper a letter or opinion article about state cash revenues, cash spending, and long-term debt assumption. Use Letters To The Editor Via E-mail to find the E-mail address of the Editor of your local newspaper.

Use the Local Government Factfinding List to understand and influence the revenues, spending, and long-term debt assumption decisions of your local government.

Make a monetary contribution to Watchdog Indiana. Contributions will be used to help publicize the positions taken by Watchdog Indiana. Watchdog Indiana is established as a non-profit, non-connected, and non-party political action committee (see WINPAC) so contributors will be protected by the bookkeeping and reporting requirements of Indiana's Election Division. All Watchdog Indiana monetary contributions and expenditures can be found online at the Indiana Campaign Finance Database. Watchdog Indiana contributions are not tax deductible. Send an E-mail for the mailing address if you wish to make a monetary contribution to Watchdog Indiana. 

Become a Voting Member of Watchdog Indiana. Anyone who makes a contribution of five dollars or more is eligible to become a Voting Member. When fifteen contributors express an interest in becoming Voting Members, the Watchdog Indiana Constitution And Bylaws will be activated. 

Establish a local Watchdog chapter for your local government. See the Constitution And Bylaws for details. Watchdog Lebanon is an example of a local Watchdog chapter.

Please send an E-mail telling what you think about Watchdog Indiana or anything else that comes to mind. Your comments, suggestions, problems, complaints, praise, and opinions are welcome.

This page was last updated on 07/19/08.