Indiana Farm Bureau
NEWS RELEASE
For more information: Kathleen Dutro, 317-692-7824, kdutro@infarmbureau.org
Andy Dietrick, 317-692-7818, adietrick@infarmbureau.org
Katrina Hall, 317-692-7805
Taxes among the top issues addressed by delegates
Indiana Farm Bureau delegates reaffirmed their support for federal crop yield and revenue insurance at their annual delegate session, and also added language in support of a new federal insurance program for livestock, poultry and specialty crops.
“The delegates reaffirmed support for crop insurance as a major safety net and added language asking for a similar safety net for livestock and specialty crop producers,” said IFB President Don Villwock.
During the delegate session, which was held Aug. 25 in Indianapolis and included representatives of every county Farm Bureau in the state, the delegates also made changes in the organization’s policy regarding inheritance, property and personal property taxes. Among the changes were:
Personal property tax – Delegates clarified the language about supporting elimination of personal property tax, adding, however, that “non-property tax revenue must be found before elimination.”
Assessment – In reaction to a proposal by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance to change the soil productivity factors used in the formula that determines the taxable value of farmland, the delegates adopted language saying that the legislature should have the final say on the farmland formula. They also indicated their opposition to increasing the soil productivity factor above the current level of 1.28 percent of the base assessed farmland value.
Established in the 1970s, that value was based on data collected by Purdue University, and any new value should also be based on data, said Katrina Hall, IFB’s tax and local government specialist.
“We need a legislative solution,” Hall told the delegates. “We need to work with the General Assembly to ensure that the factors are based on objective data, as they were to begin with.”
Inheritance tax – The Indiana General Assembly passed legislation in 2012 that completely phases out the inheritance tax, with full repeal occurring in 2022. However, the delegates asked the General Assembly to accelerate this schedule.
Sales tax – Delegates added language in support of federal legislation that would require the collection of appropriate state sales tax on internet sales in all states. This is important, said Villwock, because it would broaden the sales tax and support local businesses by putting them on a level playing field with Internet sellers.