Monday, September 24, 2007

Elected Assessors Can't Do Job, You Pay

Marion Co. taxpayers will have to fork over $1.8 million to Manatron, Inc. to assess all commercial and industrial property because our elected assessors don't know how to do it. WTHR reports on the contract the county signed with Manatron:

Marion County announced it signed a contract with Manatron, Inc., for the reassessment of all commercial and industrial properties in Marion County.

The county said in a news release that Manatron was selected after the county solicited bids from all professional appraisers certified by the Indiana Department of Local Government Finance (DLGF). Marion County agreed to pay Manatron $1.8 million to complete the reassessment by February 1, 2008.

Manatron partnered with the Schneider Corporation, an Indianapolis-based Women Business Enterprise with strong political ties to Peterson, to provide GIS Assessment Analysis services. According to the county's press release, Schneider will use its expertise with GIS (Geographic Information Systems) to assist Manatron.

Is it not time to get rid of these elected assessors?

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll bet Wilson won't comment here. It shows the incompetence of our current elected assesors.
What party do they belong to, Wilson?

Anonymous said...

"Manatron partnered with the Schneider Corporation, an Indianapolis-based Women Business Enterprise with strong political ties to Peterson, to provide GIS Assessment Analysis services."

Gee...coincidence? Now we're getting screwed by the mayor who hires his political allies to re-do our assessments.

garyj said...

Should have left Wilson out of this.You just egging him on to make foolish comments and defend Bart.
I'm certain that the re-assesments will be fair and impartial. Without bias towards Barts contributors.

Anonymous said...

Yea don't get Wilson started......If you don't give him attention he might go away (dream sequence here)

Wilson46201 said...

Well, I know the Franklin, Perry and Decatur Assessors are Republicans. Washington, Warren, Lawrence and Center (maybe Pike) are Democrats. Dunno about Wayne.

By the way, there are 1004 elected township assessors in Indiana, pretty much equal Democrat/Republican.

There are a number of other counties in which Your Man Mitch has ordered reassessments. It's odd that so many folk had trouble implementing the state-mandated new procedures. So is it local elected officials or is it poorly implemented new statewide procedures?

Wilson46201 said...

It's kinda telling that 3 of the 4 other comments here are about me - it shows the real issues of assessing are not important to the readership but instead snide partisan personal sniping is the main interest at AdvanceIndiana.

Anonymous said...

No, W, it shows you've outlived your usefulness here. And many other places, for that matter.

One of your boys, the Center assessor, who defeated a state-certified appraiser in the 06 primary, is among the incompetent. He defeated the certified appraiser, because he was the hand-picked lackey of the Congresswoman. Only reason. Assessment qualifications certainly weren't considered. He was a freaking janitor.

Ain't politics grand?

FYI, Schneider had strong ties to Goldsmith, too, Gary. And to the former Lawrence mayor--how do you thinkk they got such a sweet deal on their Fort Harrison digs? They're adept at sucking up to whomever is in power.

Anonymous said...

1004 elected assessors-call one of them up and ask a detailed question re your assessment and see what kind of answer you get.

Gary R. Welsh said...

anon 7:37 said, FYI, Schneider had strong ties to Goldsmith, too, Gary. And to the former Lawrence mayor--how do you thinkk they got such a sweet deal on their Fort Harrison digs? They're adept at sucking up to whomever is in power.

Most of the people who contribute to Peterson were former contributors to the Republicans when they were in charge. These are the very people who are doing everything they can to undermine Ballard's efforts at winning party support. You will also find many of the people who contribute to Peterson also contribute to Gov. Daniels.

Anonymous said...

It is all about the money not service to the people.

Anonymous said...

Schneider got a BIG tax abatement from the state (back in Feb 2006) in return for a promise to hire a boatload of new workers.

Maybe, Schneider will finally live up to that promise, eh?

Former Schneider employee runs the Indy GIS (IMAGIS), too.

It's a circle something around here.

M Theory said...

Yep, Greg Bowes told us this was coming at a very long budget meeting at CTS. Not only are we paying for this service, our bills are not likely to go down.

It is time to abolish property taxes completely in Indiana.

HoosiersForFairTaxation.com

Gary, may we reprint your blog on our blog?

Anonymous said...

sounds to me that you are attacking Women owned business. And most assessors are women. So what are you saying, women cannot do the jobs given to them.
More like, the state Democrats and Republicans need to quit their fighting and quit worring about getting re-elected. Why isn't there one computer program that is used by the state and the counties. Oh, that would mean there would be no KICK BACKS.

Anonymous said...

Indiana Assessors are generally unprepared to fulfill the requirements of their jobs.

You read into that statement whatever you like, 11:53.

The discussion about how interested persons get slated into various elected office candidacies is a topic for an overly long recital, which is out of place here.

One could fill in the title "Assessors" with just about any City or County elected office as well, IMO.

Anonymous said...

Missed informed are we, Assessor's are by state statue to have Level 1 and Level 2 Assessor/Apprasial Certification.

Why don't you find out how many do not have these before you post wrong information.

Both parties do slate people into positions. The problem is that you have to be a friend of the county chairperson of the party who is in control in the county in order to get slated. Most of the time it has nothing to do with qualifications. Aldo, Look at our State Legislators that "We the People" elect. Most are attorney's or teachers, who are only looking out for their interest not the people. It's called how much money you can raise.


After reading some of the post, I belive I will change my party from Republican.