A press conference was held Wednesday, Oct. 9 in the 4th floor lobby at 11 am with county officials Councilwoman Amy Drake; Councilman Randy Figg; Councilman Joe Thomas; and Commissioner Carl Baxmeyer regarding progress on the new St. Joseph County property tax cut.
“We are here today to remind St. Joe County citizens once again to take advantage of the new tax cut specifically passed for St. Joe County residents. This is the first year people can apply for the program, and we’ve been working on holding FAQ sessions and sign-up sessions in the county to make sure everyone who can sign up for this program does.
We are so happy to let everyone know that we have now received and processed 7,160 applications for the new tax cut. Our recent efforts to inform our citizens of this new law saw a jump of 613 applications completed in September alone.
That’s why we’re here today. To continue to get the word out. We want everyone eligible to get this tax cut, but they must apply.
In order to get your first year of tax savings next year, you must apply by December 31, 2024. We still have one more tax cut FAQ to be held Monday, October 14 at the St. Francis Branch library at 5:30 pm that will also include representatives from our assessor’s and auditor’s office to help you with any questions. Both offices have been essential to this process, working with the county council to implement and communicate this tax savings.
Remember, citizens can sign up for the tax cut anytime, through the auditor department’s web site at sjcindiana.gov — and the process is very easy. But, if anyone needs extra help, we will hold another all-county sign-up session on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the County City Building from 8-12 in the second-floor lobby. Staff from the auditor’s office will be on hand to assist county residents with the sign-up process. You will need your ID to prove your age.
The rules are simple:
Be 55
Have Lived in Your House 10 Years
Have a homestead deduction on your property, which means it is your primary residence.
There are NO income limits.
One of the biggest concerns the County Council heard from constituents is that their property taxes are too high. The state heard your concerns too and they gave local legislators such as us the ability to pass a temporary three-year tax cut for people 55 and older. Only St. Joseph County fully took advantage of this program, passing on this savings to all eligible citizens in the county. That means for the next three years, property tax increases will be capped at 2 percent on homes. This will be a major saving for our citizens and a huge safeguard for the older people of our county.
This tax cut legislation is truly a testament to the council’s new Republican leadership. This is the first time in memory that Republicans have held the majority on the Council — and we felt that getting this tax cut done was imperative. While Republican initiated this bill, we want to thank all of our council members for working in a bipartisan way to getting this tax savings accomplished.” — Amy Drake, St. Joseph County Council, Clay Township
