Thank you for the support you’ve shown me over the years.  As your State Representative my goal has always been to be accessible and responsive to all Johnson County voters, not just at election time, but throughout the year.

I’ve regularly held town meetings throughout my district, conducted surveys by mail, and visited with Johnson County school teachers and superintendents.  Knowing what’s going on in the local cities and towns is critical too.  For that reason I work hard to keep the lines of communication open with our local officials.

Also, I believe it is my responsibility to help Hoosiers with any problem they may be having with State government.  Johnson County residents regularly contact me to help them with problems they may be having with government agencies and often I can help them cut through the red tape or give them a contact name and number to help solve their problem.

Woody Burton
State Representative
House District 58


Raising Taxes Doesn’t Solve Anything

It seems like every time I attend a local event or open my morning paper, I hear about another local government entity debating a referendum. When local officials need money to fund a project or construct a new building, it requires raising your property taxes to pay for it. By doing so, they are required to put a referendum on the ballot to get the taxpayers’ approval.

In the current economy, raising taxes is the last thing we need.  Enough is enough.

I understand that there are times when we need improvements in our community.  But there is a difference between “needing” and “wanting”.  I am hearing that the City of Greenwood is requesting a $12 million increase in taxes.  They need $7.4 million for a swimming pool and $4.5 million to purchase a building the city is currently leasing and to buy land for a new future city building.

Recent history shows us how poorly referendums have gone over within our community because voters don’t want their taxes raised. Fortunately, they have the right to voice their opinion at the polls.

The Johnson County sheriff’s department pushed in May of 2010 for a $2.3 million jail expansion (an improvement that is truly needed), yet the referendum failed.

Center Grove school system asked for an additional 15 cents on each $100 of assessed property value in order to pay for various renovation projects.  The referendum failed also.

Nineveh-Hensley-Jackson school system requested in 2009 to receive $4.5 million a year for 22 years in order to lease an elementary school and make improvements. This was another referendum that would have raised taxes.  It failed.

Other proposed projects within the last 2 years that were never brought to the ballot:  Center Grove High School base project asked for $84.2 million, West Grove Elementary project asked for $31 million and another Center Grove project asked for $27.3 million.

The Johnson County Library is currently considering spending between $26 million and $33 million on a new library building. Do we really need a new library at this time? Either way, this will probably be on the ballot in the May primary in 2012 for your approval.

In the mid 1960s, then Governor Otis Bowen passed a major property tax reduction reform bill. Since that time, property taxes have crept up until 2008 when the legislature passed a bill to protect property taxpayers by allowing voters to decide if their property taxes should be capped—1% for homestead property, 2% for rentals and farmland and 3% for commercial, personal and excess residential properties.

I supported the tax caps in 2008 and even helped push the legislation through the House.  More than 80% of voters in Johnson County voted to adopt the caps.  This referendum passed overwhelmingly.

My point is our economy is struggling, local and state governments are struggling and Johnson County families are struggling. Raising taxes in these poor economic times should not be a solution.

The truth is that everyone could use more money to run their offices, their businesses, their schools and their homes. This economy should have taught us to adjust to a new norm of living. We need to look beyond a quick fix of raising taxes. The taxpayers should not be looked at or approached as a never ending pocket book.

Do we not understand that raising property taxes above the caps should be only done when we’re faced with an emergency? Wanting improvements to older buildings or purchasing new buildings would be nice for the community, but is there an emergency to do so? I truly believe that in the current economy taxpayers do not want us to raise their property taxes.

Addressing Education Reform in Indiana

My office has received numerous emails from teachers and concerned parents regarding our legislative proposals addressing education reform in Indiana.  There are some documents below that include not only my response, but some additional information on this very important matter.  The documents included a charter school study report, information regarding Senate Bills 1 (Teacher Licensing and Evaluations) and 575 (Teacher Collective Bargaining) and a document outlining several collective bargaining agreements throughout the state. I strongly urge you to take a look at these documents and read over the information.

As always, if you have any additional questions or comments please don’t hesitate contacting me. Bring your concerns and ideas to the discussion table, and together as a community, we can find solutions. You can call my office at 1-800-382-9841 or email me at H58@in.gov.