Governor Signs LaPorte County Property Tax Law

State Representative Tom Dermody
State Representative Tom Dermody

LaPorte County property owners have a new layer of protections and payment options thanks to a bill authored by Rep. Tom Dermody and signed into law by Gov. Mike Pence. The measure offers flexible repayment options and plans along with incentives to make early or on-time payments. It authorizes the Department of Local Government Finance to delay the payment of tax bills imposed for the March 1, 2012 or Jan. 15, 2013 assessment dates. The bill also creates a 2 percent discount for those who pay their property taxes on time. If payments are delinquent, the bill creates an additional 12 month period before a property is put up for auction. Dermody drafted the measure in response to an ongoing property tax situation in LaPorte County. In 2012 property taxpayers were told they had a limited amount of time to pay their 2007 tax bills. Dermody offered a bill then to give the county council the authority to give taxpayers more time to pay or set up a payment plan. It also allowed payments to be made via debit or credit card. Dermody says the new law is aimed at further protecting taxpayers.