HB 1271

Bill Subjects

Abstract

Provides under multiple remonstrance provisions that the department of local government finance (DLGF) may either hold a hearing in the affected county or through electronic means. Provides that the state board of accounts is accountable to the legislative council. Defines the term "nonconforming" for certain property tax purposes. Provides that consent to receive notice of a personal property tax assessment via electronic mail remains in effect unless revoked during the preceding year. Replaces the term "railroad car company" with the term "railcar company" for property tax purposes. Provides that the DLGF may amend certain public utility assessment administrative rules to reflect statutory changes. Provides that the fiscal officer of a political subdivision shall provide the DLGF with a report of any annexations that took place within the county during the preceding year. Provides rules and procedures for school corporation budget adoption meetings and hearings. Provides that for certain actions taken by the DLGF on tax levies and budgets of a political subdivision, the DLGF shall certify its action to the: (1) state board of accounts; (2) auditor of state; and (3) department of state revenue; if the budget and levy of the political subdivision are being continued. Provides that 25 taxpayers of a political subdivision must sign a written request for certain public hearings on budgets, tax rates, or tax levies. Provides that a political subdivision shall include an appropriation for bond proceeds in its budget for the ensuing year. Provides procedures for the Goshen public library. Requires the county auditor of the county in which a political subdivision or school corporation proposes to impose property taxes to determine the: (1) estimated average percentage of property tax increase on a homestead to be paid to the political subdivision or school corporation; and (2) estimated average percentage of property tax increase on a business property to be paid to the political subdivision or school corporation. Provides a formula for making the estimated average percentage of property tax increase determinations. Provides that the DLGF may establish fair and reasonable fees for level three assessor-appraiser examinations and certifications. Provides that a parcel of land may not be included in more than one allocation area under several provisions going forward. Provides that a district that does not impose a levy under certain circumstances shall give notice of the hearing on the proposed budget and submit the adopted budget in the manner prescribed by the DLGF. Provides that the budget of a district that does not impose a levy may not be considered subject to review by the DLGF. Provides that for cumulative fund tax levy procedure purposes, if a cumulative fund that has been established in a prior year is not reestablished and the tax rate is not properly certified, the political subdivision may not increase a tax rate for the cumulative fund for the ensuing year. Provides that a political subdivision that decides to establish a cumulative fund must give notice in the form required by the DLGF. Provides that the DLGF is not required to hold a cumulative fund tax levy public hearing unless the petition expressly alleges that the political subdivision failed to comply with certain procedural requirements. Provides that after a political subdivision complies with the cumulative fund tax levy procedural rules, a property tax may be levied annually at the rate adopted by the political subdivision and certified by the DLGF. Provides that distributions from the financial institutions tax fund may be used for any legal purpose. Provides that a county's distribution of the commercial vehicle excise tax may be used for any legal purpose. Amends review procedures for conservancy district budgets. Provides that for education emergency loans and anticipatory warrants, a governing body may not increase the debt service fund levy to pay for the interest on the loans or warrants unless the loans or warrants have been issued, and the school corporation has received the proceeds from the loans or warrants. Provides that a governing body may not authorize an education emergency loan for the purpose of increasing the school corporation's property tax rate for the ensuing budget year. Provides that for temporary education loans, a board of school trustees, including an Indianapolis public school board, may not impose a levy to pay for the interest on the loans from a debt service fund unless the loan has been issued, and the school town or school city has received the loan proceeds. Provides that a board of school trustees may not authorize a temporary loan for the purpose of increasing the school town or school city's property tax rate for the ensuing budget year. Provides that a county auditor shall forward a list of disannexed lots or lands, as well as a copy of any annexation ordinance, to the DLGF not later than August 1. Provides for uses of revenue from the Henry County food and beverage tax. Extends the sunset date for provisions that permit certain political subdivisions to sell bonds at a negotiated sale from July 1, 2021, to July 1, 2023, and includes all counties, townships, cities, towns, and school corporations under those provisions. Provides that if a remonstrance or objection is filed or raised by an aggrieved person and the: (1) lands of the aggrieved person do not abut any other public way other than the public way to which a vacation petition applies; or (2) vacation of the public way would cause the lands of the aggrieved person to become landlocked with no other convenient or reasonable means of ingress or egress via another public way; the appropriate legislative body shall deny the petition to vacate the public way. Authorizes the town of Winfield and the town of LaGrange to petition the department of local government finance to increase its maximum permissible ad valorem property tax levy in 2022. Provides that if a substantial amount of real and personal property in a township has been physically destroyed as a result of a disaster, the county assessor shall order a reassessment of the destroyed property if a petition for reassessment is filed. Provides that a sale of aviation fuel is exempt from the aviation fuel excise tax if the aviation fuel is dispensed into an aircraft owned by a certified aerial applicator performing agricultural operations. Provides that money accumulated from the Marshall County additional tax rate for criminal justice facilities, after the tax imposed is terminated, shall be transferred to the county jail fund to be established by the county auditor. Provides that funds accumulated from the Perry County additional rate for county jail and related buildings after: (1) the redemption of bonds issued; or (2) the final payment of lease rentals due; shall be transferred to the county jail operations fund to be used for financing the maintenance and operations of the Perry County detention center. Provides that $2 from each marriage certificate fee collected shall be deposited in the clerk's record perpetuation fund. Increases the: (1) bailiff's service of process by registered or certified mail fee; and (2) cost for the personal service of process by the bailiff or other process server; from $13 to $15. Increases the amount that a political subdivision may transfer into its rainy day fund from 10% to 15% during calendar years 2021 through 2024. Expands the authority of municipalities to annex noncontiguous territory to territory that is occupied by a solar electric generating facility that is or will be interconnected to an electric utility owned by the municipality. Amends the definition of "economic improvement project" under the economic improvement districts chapter. Adds a provision relating to allocation of tax distributions with regard to fire protection territories. Provides that a qualified taxpayer that files an exemption application before September 1, 2021, will be considered to have timely filed exemption applications for various prior years.