Shackleford votes against Republican tax hike on Hoosiers, “We need to prioritize our most vulnerable’

Today, April 10, Indiana House Republicans passed Senate Bill (SB) 1 with an amendment that will potentially increase Hoosiers' local income taxes by $1.1 billion annually while cutting police, fire, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and public school services by $1.4 billion over three years. 

While the bill was pushed through with very little time to review the possible fiscal impact, it's clear that SB 1 will provide minimal property tax relief to Hoosiers. Republican leadership told Hoosiers it's time to "tighten our belts" while discussing this legislation, despite House Democrats' concerns that SB 1 will choke the life out of vital services provided by local governments.

State Rep. Robin Shackleford (D-Indianapolis) issued the following statement after voting "no" on SB 1:

“Senate Bill 1 will cost Marion County $75 million over the next three years. These crucial tax dollars would have gone to our schools, our fire departments and other essential services. Instead, now, local governments will have to impose income taxes to make up for the revenue lost by these cuts, negating any tax breaks Hoosiers would receive from the property tax reductions. 

“This bill, rushed forward without necessary research, also fails to alleviate the burdens faced by veterans and fixed-income seniors. As the economy gets worse and more and more Hoosiers have to be wary of every dollar they spend, we in the legislature should be prioritizing the needs of the most vulnerable in our community. Instead, the majority has prioritized providing millions in tax cuts for business personal property while saying that we can’t afford benefits for veterans, homestead credits, and first-time homebuyer credits.

“The House Republicans have also squeezed in language from SB 518, forcing public schools to share their property tax revenues with charter schools. This bill will be immensely damaging for our communities while providing little to no relief for the most vulnerable in our communities. I strongly oppose this bill and will continue to advocate for the needs of our seniors on the House floor.”

The bill now heads back to the Senate for a concurrence vote. During the House session on Wednesday, April 9, Gov. Mike Braun signaled that this was the Indiana GOP's final property tax plan, despite House Democrats still working to make the bill better on the House floor via amendments which were all voted down by the majority.