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Larry DeBoer April 25, 2024

It was printed in bold letters on the front of the envelope. “Open Immediately. Property Tax Notice Enclosed.” It was the annual property tax bill on my house! I remembered last year: a jump in my tax bill of 31 percent.

I tore open the envelope and found the page of numbers showing how my tax bill was calculated. The taxable assessed value of my home went up only 3 percent this year. Last year the increase was 35 percent. My tax rate went down by almost 5 percent. The tax bill is the assessed value times the rate. If my home value went up 3, but my tax rate went down 5, my tax bill should decrease by about 2 percent, right?

Wrong. My tax bill went up 10 percent.

This is pretty typical for Indiana homeowners this year. Statewide, taxable homestead assessed values rose 3.8 percent, the average tax rate fell by half a percent, yet the average tax bill rose 6.6 percent. That’s much less than last year’s 17 percent tax bill increase. Still, how does the tax bill rise more than assessed value when the tax rate goes down?

We can all answer this question for our own homes. Indiana provides a page of numbers with every tax bill showing how it’s calculated. You get the page even if your mortgage holder pays your taxes from escrow. Let’s take a look.

At the top of the page is the gross assessed value. That’s the assessor’s estimate of the possible selling price of my house. It rose 11 percent this year, close to the statewide average increase of 10.1 percent. Home values have been rising everywhere, and our market-value-in-use assessment system is capturing the increase.

Gross assessed value minus deductions is net assessed value, which is taxable. The General Assembly increased deductions for this year, to provide some tax relief. The $48,000 standard homestead deduction changed a little. The supplemental homestead deduction changed a lot. It was increased from 35 percent of the assessment after the standard deduction, to 40 percent. That’s why net assessments rose so much less than gross assessments.

The tax rate is a combination of the rates of the county, city, school district and the smaller units. Tax rates are recalculated each year by dividing the local unit’s tax levy by the total net assessed value within the government’s boundaries. Statewide, the levy rose 5.9 percent, total net AV rose 6.4 percent, so the average tax rate fell 0.5 percent.

This year the General Assembly restricted levy growth by cutting the growth of the maximum levy from 5 percent to 4 percent, and restricting growth of school referendum levies for operating costs to 3 percent. Last year the average levy increased 8.8 percent, an unusually large rise. The new restrictions helped limit that increase to 5.9 percent this year.

About two-thirds of the counties have local income taxes that provide property tax credits to homeowners. Some counties increased their LIT credits this year, which caused homestead tax bills to drop. My county left the credit about the same.

That’s the end of the tax bill calculation for homeowners where tax rates are lower. Those homeowners probably saw modest increases, or even decreases in their tax bills this year.

If the tax rate you pay is high enough, though, you’ll be eligible for a circuit breaker tax cap credit. The Indiana Constitution limits homeowner tax bills to 1 percent of the gross AV of the home, before deductions. The taxpayer gets a credit if the tax bill exceeds the cap.

My house is eligible for a tax cap credit. It dropped by 84 percent. Homestead tax cap credits fell 61 percent statewide. My tax bill went up, not down, because of the drop in tax cap credits.

The constitutional tax caps are based on gross assessed value. Tax bills are based on net assessed value. Deductions increased, so net AV grew much less than gross AV. That means the cap rose faster than the tax bill, so the credit needed to bring the tax bill down to the cap was much smaller.

The General Assembly gave homeowners a tax break, but for some, the Indiana Constitution took it back.

INDIANAPOLIS (May 16, 2024) – Indiana Destination Development Corporation (IDDC) is celebrating "IN Indiana Week" in conjunction with National Travel and Tourism Week (NTTW) from May 19 to 25.

Established in 1983, NTTW has become a cherished tradition, celebrating the United States travel community and highlighting how travel stimulates economic growth, creates quality jobs, inspires new businesses and elevates the quality of life for Americans every day

Travel is essential to driving economic growth and job creation in states, destinations and communities across America, and it is indispensable to our nation’s global competitiveness. In 2023, travelers in the U.S. directly spent $1.3 trillion, which produced an economic footprint of $2.8 trillion and supported more than 15 million American jobs.

Indiana's tourism industry has a significant impact on the state's economy. According to a Rockport Analytics study, Indiana tourism contributes $6 billion in economic contributions to the state and generates approximately $1.6 billion in state and local taxes. Indiana's tourism industry also supports over 200,000 jobs.

Throughout IN Indiana Week, the IDDC is partnering with several organizations to do outreach in key markets and encourage tourism in the Hoosier state.

"IN Indiana Week is a time for us to celebrate the impact that Hoosier tourism has on our state," said Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch, Indiana's Secretary of Agriculture and Rural Development. "Tourism industry workers across the state continuously create unforgettable memories for our visitors and residents all year long, and we are proud to celebrate their efforts and enjoy all that Indiana has to offer."

IN Indiana Week Agenda:

Sunday, May 19: The Department of Natural Resources is offering free admission to all Indiana State Parks.
Monday, May 20 and Tuesday, May 21: IDDC staff visits Cincinnati, Ohio at Fountain Square with photo opportunities with Garfield and promotional items for Indiana tourism. Hoosier motorcycle racer, Nolan Lamkin, joins IDDC staff on Tuesday in Cincinnati.

Week-long Giveaways: Enter to win the following prizes on our social media channels @VisitIndiana on Facebook and Instagram.

Festival Country: $75 gift to Green's Pizzeria and Tapp Room, Free U-Pick Bouquet at Dollie's Farm.
Visit Hamilton County: Family fun getaway to Hamilton County - Conner Prairie, hotel, dining and additional activities.
Lafayette, West Lafayette: Four day passes to Tropicanoe Cove Water Park.
Visit Shipshewana: Shipshewana Off the Beaten Path Amish Country Adventure Getaway.
Visit Vincennes/Knox County: Two tickets to the Red Skelton Comedy Experience, including a beginning stand-up comedy lesson with Tamale Sepp, a comedian, skydiver and Second City teacher, as well as three days of comedy and nostalgia.
SoIN Tourism: The Woods ATV Adventure in SoIN! This prize offers a ride for up to four people through scenic southern Indiana trails.

"IN Indiana Week shines a spotlight on our diverse attractions, rich culture, Hoosier hospitality and all things that make Indiana a premier destination," said IDDC Secretary and CEO Elaine Bedel. "We will be showcasing the best of what our state has to offer and inspiring visitors to make Indiana their first choice when travel planning. Indiana is a great place to live, work, learn and play and we are proud to invite visitors to come see what we see IN Indiana."

For more information about things to do in Indiana, click here.

For information about events in Washington County, visit the website of Washington County Tourism--www.visitwashingtoncounty.org

It’s time to celebrate Hoosier organizations prioritizing internal cultures that bolster their workforces and companies. The Indiana Chamber of Commerce honored a record 193 employers from throughout the state tonight at the 2024 Best Places to Work in Indiana Awards Dinner, presented by trueU. Rankings were revealed in four categories at the event, which was held in Indianapolis at the Indiana Convention Center. Coming in at No. 1:

JA Benefits, a Bedford-based insurance and employee benefits company – small category (between 15 and 74 U.S. employees)
TrueScripts, a prescription benefit management service in Washington – medium category (between 75 and 249 U.S. employees)
Harrah’s Hoosier Park Racing and Casino, a casino and racing park in Anderson – large category (between 250 and 999 U.S. employees)
ARCO Design/Build, a national design/build construction firm with a location in Indianapolis – major category (1,000 or more U.S. employees)

JA Benefits earns the No. 1 designation for the fifth time, while TrueScripts celebrates a “three-peat” in its category. ARCO jumped from the No. 2 spot in 2023 to join Harrah’s as a first-time winner in 2024.

“The theme of this year’s program was ‘Show Off Your Superpower,’ and these winning organizations are definitely ‘super’ in the ways in which they enhance the lives of their employees,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Vanessa Green Sinders. “The fun staff events, terrific benefits and benevolent efforts to improve their communities are just some of the ways these leading businesses are setting examples for workplace culture.”

Organizations on the list represent more than 40 cities and towns, with a variety of honorees coming from Carmel, Evansville, Fishers, Fort Wayne, Indianapolis, Marion, Plainfield, Warsaw and Washington. In addition, several businesses have multiple Indiana locations.

This year’s winners include companies with Hoosier employee counts (at the time of application) ranging from 15 to 1,300. Out-of-state parent companies were eligible to participate if at least 15 full-time employees are in Indiana. Two companies – Edward Jones and KSM (Katz, Sapper & Miller) – have received the honor in all 19 years of the program’s history.

Honorees and rankings were determined through employer reports and a comprehensive, anonymous employee survey. The Workforce Research Group handled the selection process.

2024 marked the 19^th year for Best Places to Work in Indiana. Sinders was excited to take part in the first Best Places to Work event of her tenure. “Since I began, I’ve been hearing what a fun experience this event is,” she shares. “It’s clear the impact on the state’s business community is palpable and it’s a pleasure to bring so many Hoosiers together to recognize these employers and their staffs.”

All companies that participated in the 2024 Best Places to Work program receive an in-depth evaluation identifying strengths and weaknesses according to their employees. In turn, this report can be used in developing or enhancing employee retention and recruitment programs.

In addition to the awards, winners will be recognized via a special section of the Indiana Chamber’s BizVoice® magazine and through Inside INdiana Business, a Division of IBJ Media – both of which reach statewide audiences. Additional program partners are HR Indiana SHRM, Indiana Department of Workforce Development, Institute for Workforce Excellence, Wellness Council of Indiana and Workforce Research Group. More information about the Best Places to Work honorees is available via the current edition of BizVoice magazine, available online at www.bizvoicemagazine.com.

Additional Best Places to Work in Indiana sponsors are: platinum sponsor Indianapolis Airport Authority; gold sponsor Nucor Steel Indiana; silver sponsors Dentons, LHD Benefit Advisors, True Rx Health Strategies and TrueScripts; visibility sponsors Bone Dry Roofing, Inc., Busey Bank, DKP, Harrah’s Hoosier Park, Horseshoe Hammond casino, Indiana Members Credit Union, Invst, Jackson Lewis, Moser Consulting, Northwest Bank, Parkview Health, Performance Services, Inc., Reis-Nichols Jewelers and Safety Management Group.

The application period for the 2025 Best Places to Work program kicks off this summer. Go to www.bestplacestoworkindiana.com to learn more and apply.

List of 2024 Best Places to Work in Indiana honorees by ranking:

Small Companies (15-74 U.S. employees) (87)
Company / Primary Indiana Location

JA Benefits, LLC / Bedford
CleanSlate Technology Group / Carmel
CSpring / Carmel
Magnum Logistics / Plainfield
ADVISA / Carmel
Hamilton County Tourism / Carmel
KBSO Consulting, LLC / Carmel
LHD Benefit Advisors / Indianapolis
Goelzer Investment Management / Indianapolis
St. John Associates, Inc. / Bloomington
Conner Insurance / Indianapolis
Banning Engineering, Inc. / Plainfield
Leaf Software Solutions / Carmel
Platinum Recruiting Group / Carmel
Indesign / Indianapolis
Your Money Line / Indianapolis
BBB Serving Central Indiana / Indianapolis
Ultimate Technologies Group / Fishers
TMG Construction Management, Inc. / Noblesville
Sponsel CPA Group, LLC / Indianapolis
Powers & Sons Construction / Indianapolis
netlogx / Indianapolis
Raybourn Group International, Inc. / Indianapolis
Glassboard / Indianapolis
The Mind Trust / Indianapolis
Insurance Management Group / Marion
Mainstay Property Group / Indianapolis
Brite Systems, Inc. / Indianapolis
Meyers Glaros / Merrillville
Bowe Digital, LLC / Kokomo
Summers of Marion, Inc. / Marion
MakeMyMove / Indianapolis
Found Search Marketing / Fishers
Invesque / Fishers
Summers of Fort Wayne, Inc. / Fort Wayne
Greenwalt CPAs, Inc. / Indianapolis
Qualifi / Indianapolis
DKP / Zionsville
Summers of Kokomo, Inc. / Kokomo
Brackett Heating-Air-Plumbing / Evansville
Safety Resources, Inc. / Indianapolis
iRiS Recruiting Solutions / Carmel
Solution Source / Goshen
FORCE Communications / Carmel
Interactive Digital Solutions / Noblesville
Align CEC, Inc. / Greencastle
ECS Solutions / Evansville
Network Solutions, Inc. / Granger
Visit Indy / Indianapolis
Integrity Learning Center / Plainfield
MDMi / Indianapolis
Steinberger Construction, Inc. / Logansport
BLASTmedia / Indianapolis
Connecta Corporation / Indianapolis
Auctor Corporation / Indianapolis
NFP-First Person / Indianapolis
Gray Capital / Indianapolis

(Small Companies – Honorable Mentions)

Bedel Financial Consulting, Inc. / Indianapolis
Blackink IT / Indianapolis
BlueSky Commerce / Noblesville
CertaPro Painters / Indianapolis
Dittoe Public Relations / Indianapolis
Donovan CPAs / Avon
Financial Enhancement Group, LLC / Anderson
Guidon Design / Indianapolis
IDO Incorporated / Indianapolis
Jacobi, Toombs & Lanz / New Albany
Joyner Homes / Greenfield
Konrady Plastics, Inc. / Portage
Lafayette Instrument / Lafayette
Luther Consulting, LLC / Carmel
Mattison / Indianapolis
MD Architects / Indianapolis
The MDC Group / Noblesville
Mesh Systems / Carmel
Phoenix Data Corporation / Indianapolis
Prime Hospitality Group / Indianapolis
Rathburn Tool & Manufacturing / Auburn
R.E. Dimond and Associates, Inc. / Indianapolis
REGO-FIX USA / Whitestown
Simply Driven Executive Search / Indianapolis
Structural Components Fabrication / Martinsville
Steele / Indianapolis
Valve+Meter Performance Marketing / Indianapolis
Warsaw Chemical Holdings, LLC / Warsaw
Winona IT / Warsaw
World of DVC / Indianapolis

Medium Companies (75-249 U.S. employees) (62)
Company / Primary Indiana Location

TrueScripts / Washington
Renovia / Indianapolis
GadellNet Consulting Services / Carmel
Harrell-Fish, Inc. / Bloomington
eimagine / Indianapolis
United Consulting / Indianapolis
True Rx Health Strategists / Washington
E-gineering, Inc. / Indianapolis
SEP / Carmel
HWC Engineering / Indianapolis
Meyer Najem Construction / Fishers
Schmidt Associates / Indianapolis
The Skillman Corporation / Indianapolis
Butler, Fairman & Seufert, Inc. / Indianapolis
Fleece Performance Engineering / Pittsboro
Springbuk / Indianapolis
Wessler Engineering / Indianapolis
Reis-Nichols Jewelers / Indianapolis
Shrewsberry & Associates, LLC / Indianapolis
FleetWatcher / Indianapolis
Prolific / Indianapolis
Hoosier Crane Service Company / Elkhart
Indiana Oxygen Company / Indianapolis
Design Collaborative / Fort Wayne
Morales Group / Indianapolis
IU Credit Union / Bloomington

(Medium Companies – Honorable Mentions)

The Annex Group / Indianapolis
Aunalytics / South Bend
Controlled Holdings / Indianapolis
Cork Medical / Indianapolis
Creative Works / Indianapolis
Dealers Wholesale / Indianapolis
Elements Financial / Indianapolis
Financial Center First Credit Union / Indianapolis
Five Star Technology Solutions / Jeffersonville
Garmong Construction / Indianapolis
Harmony Healthcare IT / South Bend
HometownLX / Indianapolis
INCOG BioPharma Services / Fishers
J.C. Hart Company / Carmel
JCBank / Seymour
Kruggel Lawton CPA / South Bend
MidWest America Federal Credit Union / Fort Wayne
Milhaus / Indianapolis
OrthoPediatrics / Warsaw
Otava, A Schurz Company / Indianapolis
Onebridge / Indianapolis
Oliver Winery / Bloomington
Parkview Ortho Hospital / Fort Wayne
Parkview Wabash Hospital / Wabash
PediPlay / Indianapolis
Peerless Midwest, Inc. / Mishawaka
RQAW / Fishers
Sheridan Community Schools / Sheridan
Starin / Chesterton
Surf Internet / Elkhart
Summers Plumbing Heating & Cooling / Brownsburg
Unified Group Services / Anderson
VOSS Automotive, Inc. / Fort Wayne
Weddle Bros. Construction Co., Inc. / Bloomington
Woodhouse Spa / Carmel

Large Companies (250-999 U.S. employees) (31)
Company / Primary Indiana Location

Harrah's Hoosier Park Racing and Casino / Anderson
WestPoint Financial Group / Indianapolis
The Garrett Companies / Greenwood
Performance Services, Inc. / Indianapolis
Blue & Co., LLC / Carmel
Horton Group / South Bend
Ryan Fireprotection / Noblesville
Lochmueller Group, Inc. / Evansville
Zotec Partners, LLC / Carmel
FORUM Credit Union / Fishers
KSM (Katz, Sapper & Miller) / Indianapolis
Guardian Care / Fishers

(Large Companies – Honorable Mentions)

AssuredPartners / Jeffersonville
Bone Dry Roofing, Inc. / Indianapolis
Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company / Fort Wayne
Buckingham Companies / Indianapolis
Dentons Bingham Greenebaum / Indianapolis
Electric Plus, Inc. / Avon
HNTB Corporation / Indianapolis
Horseshoe Hammond Casino / Hammond
Hylant / Carmel
Impact Networking / Indianapolis
Indiana Members Credit Union / Indianapolis
Indianapolis Airport Authority / Indianapolis
Moser Consulting / Indianapolis
Parkview Whitley / Columbia City
Quality Correctional Care / Carmel
Rehab Medical / Indianapolis
Safety Management Group / Indianapolis
Shook Construction / Indianapolis
STAR Financial Bank / Fort Wayne

Major Companies (1,000+ U.S. employees) (13)
Company / Primary Indiana Location

ARCO Design/Build / Indianapolis
Edward Jones / Carmel
Centier Bank / Merrillville
Busey Bank / Carmel
Colliers / Indianapolis

(Major Companies – Honorable Mentions)

Bastian Solutions / Carmel
First Merchants Bank / Muncie
Franklin Electric / Fort Wayne
The Kendall Group / Fort Wayne
MISO / Carmel
Northwest Bank / Fishers
Total Quality Logistics / Indianapolis
Warehouse Services, Inc. / Evansville

Why Our Foster Parents Matter

You may have heard the heart-tugging interviews of celebrities who spent part of their childhood in foster care. You've undoubtedly seen the feel-good story of a foster parent who "made all the difference" for a child who grew up to be an icon, a change-maker. Maybe you've skimmed an article online about the national foster care crisis. Or maybe you recognized familiar foster care language in a politician's campaign, who vows to "keep our kids out of group houses" and find them homes. Foster care is not for the stories, interviews, and campaigns. It's not only happening in the lives of stars and influencers. We have so many youth experiencing foster care, especially teenagers, who need safe, temporary homes while they await reunification with their families. However, there needs to be more foster homes for all of them.

Older youth are NOT the ones getting placed in our available foster homes. Teens often end up placed in group homes and shelters because there are not enough foster homes available. These teens in foster care are friends of our children. They are our nieces, nephews, and youth of family friends. They are our neighbors.

Youth experiencing the foster care system need foster parents who will stand by them and walk through uncertainty to help them heal. They need positive adult role models.

THIS is why our foster parents matter. THIS is why adults - young, old, married, single, gay, straight - who commit themselves to teens by opening their homes and hearts are the ones instilling hope. THIS is why we celebrate foster parents.

According to Ashley Morgan, MHA, with National Youth Advocate Program in Scottsburg, "We are also sharing the need for more foster parents in our community. Specifically, there is a need for foster families who are able to keep siblings together. We know that when foster care is a necessity as a means of providing safe homes for youth until they can return home, and when siblings are separated, they often experience unnecessary trauma. We are committed to helping siblings stay together when foster care is needed.

"National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) provides 24/7 support to our foster families, comprehensive educational opportunities and a holistic approach to serving our foster families so they can better care for youth experiencing foster care. We also provide support to the families of origin of the youth in care."

May is National Foster Care Month. National Youth Advocate Program (NYAP) appreciates foster parents everywhere. Just like our own children, teens experiencing foster care thrive when they're placed in loving, safe, empowering homes with foster parents who genuinely want them to succeed.

To learn more about becoming a NYAP foster parent, please visit www.nyap.org/fostercare or call us at 877-NYAP-CAN.

Does your money run out before the end of the month?
Is it difficult to pay your bills on time?
Do you wish you had more money?

If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then the “Where Does The Money Go” program is for you!

Purdue Extension is offering a free, two-part class to give you the information to overcome money issues. The classes are Thursday, May 16, and Thursday, May 23, 6 p.m., at the Washington County Government Building Meeting Room, 806 Martinsburg Road, Salem.

You will learn to:
Recognize where your money goes
Stop spending “leaks” to save money for what you really want
Develop a spending-savings plan

The classes are free, but registration is required. Register by contacting Sonya Mitchell at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or by calling 812-883-4601.

Any groups, clubs, organizations, churches, etc. that would like to offer the program to their members are encouraged to contact Mitchell to make arrangements.