Hunt Club and Traders Point Area News

Bills for the current Indiana state legislature need to be introduced by mid December to be considered this year. If you are a property owner you are encouraged to contact your state representatives and urge them to introduce legislation to prevent the reclassification of privately held land from “agricultural” to “excess residential” without an attendant change in the use of the property.

Two local land owners have had their land reassessed from “agricultural” to “excess residential” and have seen 1000% to 1200% increases in the assessed value of the land:

• Example 1—18 acres assessed in 2007 at $7200, 2013 at $17,000 and 2014 at $195,000 (1150% increase)
• Example 2—50 acres assessed in 2013 at $24,000 and 2014 at $260,000 (1080% increase)

If you are concerned with having your property “reclassified” and your property taxes skyrocket when nothing has changed with the use of the land, we need you to contact your state representatives and urge them to introduce language to prevent this in the future. Example language could be as simple as: “Land may not be reclassified for zoning purposes unless the use of the land changes or ownership changes.”

You can find a list of your state representatives on the Indiana General Assembly website.

Pam Faerber acted as our area representative regarding the issue of rezoning of agricultural land to “excess residential” on the first day of the new state legislature (“Organization Day”). Pam reports as follows:

…each session was only long enough to get sworn in and do a bit of work (about an hour). It would have been a waste of everyone’s time to be there. We were not allowed to “pass notes” into various members of the House or Senate—normally yes, but not on organization day!

…here are a few things that were good:

1. I met with Sheila Klinker—a rep from Lafayette IN whom I have known since Purdue days and she is interested
2. She told me about Randy Truitt and another Lafayette area reps whom I have known since those days as well, so I will contact them for support
3. I did get to speak with Katrina Hall and again ask that Farm Bureau take the lead and tell us how to be a help
4. I did promise most of YOU will join Indiana Farm Bureau
5. I did get about 3 minutes with Senator Jim Biuck—so he does know we are serious and he is supportive
6. BTW, Senator Brandt Hershman was NOT in session!!!

So not much, but a tiny start in a long process toward a change in state law.

Going forward: if any of you are in the appeal process, please keep all of us informed. Turn downs in appeal—we recommend appeal of the appeal. If we get a “hot” case, several may go in toward a lawsuit, so keep us informed.

Many thanks to Pam for taking this on and keeping us all informed!