Indiana State Rep. Mark Genda is urging at least 200 local residents to attend a May public meeting in Frankfort where Rep. J.D. Prescott of Union City will unveil a proposal to eliminate Indiana’s property taxes, calling the plan “real information” that deserves an open-minded hearing.
Property tax plan coming to Frankfort
Genda told listeners of WILO and Boone 102.7 FM and viewers on Hoosierland TV’s “Party Line” talk show Friday morning that he invited Prescott to present his property tax elimination proposal in House District 41. This invitation to Prescott was made shortly after the General Assembly wrapped up its last session.
“For a long time, JD says that he has developed or has a plan to eliminate property taxes,” Genda said, adding that Prescott has already drafted the idea “in the form of a bill that will eliminate property taxes.”
Genda said the event will be scheduled for the second or third week of May, at 6 p.m. on a weeknight, at a location in Frankfort that is still being finalized. He emphasized that the meeting will include a video presentation and a question-and-answer session. Kaspar media promised live coverage of the meeting on Hoosierland TV. Genda was open to that coverage but preferred residents would come in person to the meeting for better interaction.
“I promised JD that I would have at least two hundred people in attendance when he comes over for this presentation,” Genda told listeners. “Anything short of that is a reflection on how unimportant this must be.”
After the primary, not a “gimmick”
Genda and Prescott agreed to hold the event at least two weeks after the May primary, which Genda said was intentional.
“We both decided we’re going to wait until after the primaries, because we don’t want this to turn into some kind of…gimmick,” he said. “This is real information that JD has put together… and I expect you to be in attendance.”
Genda said he has already begun inviting farmers from Boone County, local civic groups such as “We the People,” and plans to personally invite local elected officials and school leaders. He stressed that residents across Clinton, Boone, Montgomery and Tippecanoe counties, which make up House District 41, are welcome.
“I represent sixty-eight thousand people,” Genda said. “I don’t believe it’s out of line that I…can’t guarantee two hundred people to a gentleman who’s willing to come over with a plan to eliminate property taxes.”
Key questions on funding local government
While Genda said he has intentionally not asked Prescott for details in advance, he made clear he will be focused on how the proposal would affect local governments.
“I will share two things with you that I’m going to be listening for very clearly,” he said. “How do we fund local units? And how can local units bond under his plan?”
Genda noted that property taxes are central to funding local services such as city streets, police, schools and county government, and said he wants residents to understand both the potential relief and the tradeoffs.
“Those things aren’t free. Everything has a cost,” he said, referencing recent visits from city street and police officials on the same radio program. “We have to be open minded… and see if there is a plan that we can actually use.”
Genda added that Prescott ultimately hopes to take his proposal statewide and that Frankfort will be his first stop. “I thanked him for that because I said I really want to be your first stop,” Genda said.
Concerns about SB 1 and “unfunded mandates”
During the interview, Genda also criticized part of this year’s state-level property tax relief, describing one provision in Senate Bill 1 as an “unfunded mandate” on local governments.
“What we did with SB1 was we sent to the local units an unfunded mandate,” he said. “We said from Indianapolis, you will give everyone a $300 tax break. But we didn’t fund it…It came from the local units.”
Genda said he voted for the measure as “the lesser of evils,” but expects lawmakers to revisit it in a future budget year. “There are things in there that… need to be looked at,” he said, suggesting the bill will likely see “adjustments” rather than a complete overhaul when the legislature returns to full budget work.
Gas tax suspension “good politics, not good policy”
Genda was also asked about Gov. Mike Braun’s suspension of part of the state gas tax. He said he understands the appeal for families struggling with fuel prices but disagrees with the move on policy grounds.
“It is my opinion… that the suspension of the gas tax is absolutely not good policy,” Genda said. “That is to me a knee-jerk reaction…Good politics, not good policy.”
He noted that Indiana’s road and bridge funding depends heavily on gas tax revenue and warned that cuts today can have ripple effects on infrastructure projects later.
Sheriff’s office reforms and past privacy win
Looking ahead to the next session, Genda said he is again working on legislation affecting the office of sheriff statewide, calling some current statutes “antiquated” and dating back to the 1800s.
– Photos courtesy of Abrahm Hurt
“It’s obvious that we need to look at some of those pieces and bring it up to the modern times,” he said, stressing that any changes would apply to all 92 counties, not just a single jurisdiction. Genda said he is coordinating with the Indiana Sheriffs’ Association and Rep. Greg Steuerwald, who often carries law enforcement-related bills.
Genda also pointed to a recent success on a separate issue: allowing certain professionals, such as counselors who testify in court, to redact their home address from public records if they fear for their safety. He said that provision was added as an amendment after a concerned constituent approached him.
“To be able to call that young lady back and say, you are now lawfully allowed to redact your information from the public was certainly a highlight to what I do,” Genda said.
At the end of the program, Genda again offered his personal cell phone number and encouraged residents to reach out directly with questions or concerns, saying, “I can’t be any more open than that with you.” His number is: 765-242-1142.