The Indiana Library Federation wishes to provide citizens with information to make educated decisions regarding their votes on November 2, 2010 as to permanently placing caps on property taxes in the Indiana Constitution.

• Libraries are funded by property taxes.
  
  
• Property taxes are presently capped by a statute enacted by the Indiana legislature.
  
  
• Putting property tax caps into the constitution is unnecessary.
  
  
• Property tax caps have already restricted funding which as reduced services for emergency services, libraries, schools, road and bridge repair, pools, parks and trails.
  
  
• Property tax caps restrict the amount of money available for schools, libraries, and other local services.  Other taxes may need to be increased or local surcharges will need to be implemented to pay for these services.
  
  
• Public libraries in Indiana are restricted from raising additional operating revenue through other taxing means.
  
  
• Real property tax reform needs to encompass a fair relationship between the provision of core government services, property value and taxpayer.  Indiana citizens need the flexibility to adjust tax rates in response to services being reduced due to restrictions on funding.  Flexibility is lost when the caps are in the constitution as opposed to statutory.
  
  
• ILF opposes Public Question #1, which will be on the November 2, 2010 ballot.

More information will be on the ILF website under a new link entitles, "Learn More/Take Action!" this summer.