Community invites local lawmakers to public forum over property taxes

MICHIGAN CITY, Ind. — The Michigan City Conservative Action Group invited lawmakers from Northwest Indiana to a public forum Friday evening to discuss property taxes.  

The group presented a presentation that was largely focused on the town of Trail Creek, where they said skyrocketing property taxes are forcing people out of their homes, specifically those 65 and older on a fixed income. 

The group explained they've spent the last year talking to town residents, around 340 of them, and said many are contemplating selling their homes because of the rise in property taxes.  

Group member Doug Moon said people in Trail Creek are struggling to keep up, and the group is working to ensure that lawmakers hear them out so that seniors on a fixed income are not taxed out of a home that they have already paid for. 

“We’re just looking to do more; we wanted to see if we could make a change in the community. We wanted to be a force for positive change, we didn’t want to just be complaining, we want to see things get better… We have a number of citizens who are very concerned about the increases that are occurring and it seems to be driven by people that aren’t even living here many times. That is a situation that dramatically impacts people who are on a moderate to lower income or on a fixed income,” said Moon.  

State Senator Rodney Pol Junior (D) and State Representative Pat Boy (D) are the two lawmakers who spent the night listening to concerns and helping guide folks in the right direction.  

"How do you eat an elephant? Bit by bit. It's a lot smaller elephant when it's in committee. That's where I suggest you focus on contacting specific legislatures. Because those are the ones who are going to go back to their caucuses and tell them, this is the bill that's come through, and this is why,” said Senator Pol.