Battles, Borders speak on property tax caps

WABASH VALLEY (WTHI) - When the dust settles after the November election, Hoosier legislators will get to work on several key issues.

Candidates from the 45th Districts spoke about their plans on how to properly utilize the state’s money for 2013.

Kreg Battles and Bruce Borders both represented Wabash Valley Hoosiers in 2012; however, because of redistricting, they’re competing for the same seat in the General Assembly.

It’s a seat that covers a wide range of our area.

The 45th District now covers from northern Knox County up through Sullivan, to Vigo and parts of Daviess and Greene counties.

In the only race between incumbents in the entire state, News 10 wanted to find out for our audience where each candidate stood on some very important budget issues, starting with the property tax caps.

Borders feels like they continue to protect property owners and force cities to spend wisely.

“My feeling already lives within your means. We’ve finally, realistically, protected the homeowner, the farmer and the businessman, by putting, in place, the property tax caps. So, I’m not interested in allowing other units of government, or schools for that matter, to come up with an alternative way of getting into your wallet,” said Republican Incumbent Bruce Borders.

Battles believes the property caps don’t help the way Hoosiers believe they do.

“The advocates for property tax caps conveniently leave out, and never talk about, the costs that are associated with that. You might have seen a lowering in your property tax bills, but I can promise you’ve seen a penny increase in your sales tax. You’ve seen fees for services, whether it be trash, sewer, water…in every city across the state of Indiana,” said Democrat Incumbent Kreg Battles.

It’s a debate that’s still raging for the cities saying they’ve lost revenue, for tax payers saying they’ve seen savings.

That’s why property tax caps are still relevant only a couple years after they were passed.

Come November, you’ll decide which direction you want the state to head in by your vote, especially in the 45th District.