Newly created council to coordinate property tax policy in Indianapolis area.

• Position: News & Numbers - Indianapolis Fiscal Policy Council - Brief Article

Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson issued an executive order in August creating the Indianapolis Fiscal Policy Council, a panel that will gather budget information on all 45 taxing authorities in Indianapolis and Marion County and report to the public on the effect budget decisions have on local property taxes.

At least 45 independent entities have the authority to levy property taxes in Indianapolis. Although each budgeting process is public, spending decisions that affect the overall tax rate are made independently. As a result, the effect on the overall local tax rate is often unknown and overall tax policy is not coordinated.

"Even though an independent study showed that reassessment is the major reason for the shift in property taxes, this experience taught us that the sheer number of independent taxing bodies in Indianapolis is enough to confuse any taxpayer," Peterson said. "We must have coordination, communication, and cooperation among these bodies, and there currently is no forum to make this...