First taste of St. Joseph County tax bills Save Email Print
Tax calculations are complete
Posted: 6:26 PM Sep 27, 2007
 Last Updated: 10:01 AM Sep 28, 2007
 Reporter: Mark Peterson
Email Address: mpeterson@wndu.com
19 comments
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It'll be a tough season for Charlie Weis … tax season, that is.

St. Joseph County’s property tax bills have finally been calculated. The property taxes on the Harris Township home of Notre Dame’s Head Football Coach will increase nearly $10,000, or 54%.

Meantime, all three St. Joseph County Commissioners will see their property tax bills increase. At the Harris Township home of Mark Dobson, they will increase by five percent. At the Mishawaka home of Robert Kovach, they will increase by 22%. At the Centre Township home of Steve Ross, they will increase 46%.

“It’s approximately a $1,500 increase in taxes,” Ross said Thursday from his office in the County City Building.

“I will appeal just like any other citizen would, or could” said Ross. Ross claims he has made no recent improvements to the property.

In the South Bend Mayor’s race, this time the candidate with the lowest total wins.

The 2007 property tax bill of Stephen Luecke will increase nearly seven percent. The bill of his Republican challenger, Juan Manigault, will increase by 24% or $642.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Manigault. He stated that high property taxes would be the “death knell” of South Bend and the State of Indiana.

Of the 16 bills studied by NewsCenter 16, three went down, and 13 went up.

Of the 13 that went up, ten posted double-digit percentage increases.

In Mishawaka, Mayor Jeff Rea will see his property tax bill increase by 23% this year. Democratic challenger Mike Hayes will pay a bill that is 18% higher on a Mishawaka home in Penn Township.

On the other hand, Indiana House Speaker B. Patrick Bauer will see the taxes on his South Bend home decrease by three percent. The taxes of former Governor Joseph Kernan will increase by one percent.

The taxes on the Lakeville home of Indiana Representative Jackie Walorski will increase by 38%, or $635. The taxes on the Granger home of State Senator Joseph Zakas will increase by 45%.

Plans call to begin printing St. Joseph County’s tax bills on Friday. A legal advertisement of the tax rates must be published on Saturday, before bills could be mailed next week.
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Posted by: Kelly Location: South Bend on Oct 26, 2007 at 03:13 PM
Our assessment went up over 30% and our tax bill increased over 50%!! What's up?!
Posted by: TIkaralee Location: Warsaw on Sep 29, 2007 at 06:35 AM
To Jeff in S.Bend. Why would this be the Dems fault? They didn't pick up many seats in the last election, This is still a Rep state, What we used to call Republicans are now taxing the middle and lower class people to death while cutting them for the upper classes, then spending like they're still recieving the funds they would get from the taxes they cut. When Indiana has to sell the roads, sell the Department of Family and Children, think about selling the Lottery (only thing making money for the state)we have a huge problem, and no one is asking why.
Posted by: Pam Location: Bremen on Sep 28, 2007 at 10:29 PM
Hey Mike, how can you plan for your taxes when you have no idea how much to save??? Only the rulers of our money know how much that might be (or do they??). It is so difficult for regular people to make ends meet when their basic needs continue to escalate....food, utilities, transportation, etc. It is time for the state to look at ways to CUT THEIR SPENDING. Who needs to know the sex life of frogs? That is basically the type of programs that are supported, not the needs of the average, hard working citizens.
Posted by: Anonymous on Sep 28, 2007 at 02:02 PM
I am sure this is at least 75% of the reason why the mortgage industry is hurting right now; houses are not selling because people cannot afford the taxes, among other things that have doubled like fuel & groceries....etc.
Posted by: Barely Making It Location: Mishawaka on Sep 28, 2007 at 01:09 PM
I dont know what Im going to do. I am a single mother working full time and do not qualify for government assistance. I can barely pay the bills as it is, now I have to worry about this? If I don't pay I stand to lose my home and then where will we go? The government doesnt consider the fact that the average person doesnt have the resources they think we do.
Posted by: Sober Observer Location: debtor's prison on Sep 28, 2007 at 12:33 PM
This increase in property taxes is a direct result of Hoosiers mindlessly voting over and over again for corrupt republicans. Businesses get their taxes ELIMINATED- homeowners and the middle class get the shaft. Indiana residents can no longer afford tax abatements and corporate welfare. TAX THE RICH- they're the only ones left with any money!!!
Posted by: M Location: SOUTH BEND on Sep 28, 2007 at 11:20 AM
Everyone needs to quit wining and just pay the taxes, just like someone said you know their coming and their is going to be an increase. There is an increase on everything ie: fuel,grocery.... Yes we complain and moan but we still have to pay. We need to focus more on keeping our police force from getting reduced. Get rid of middle management in the county.
Posted by: Chaz Location: South Bend on Sep 28, 2007 at 10:52 AM
Mike, most of the people that come to the games are form Indiana. Most are from this area.
Posted by: Mike Location: South Bend on Sep 28, 2007 at 10:50 AM
First off, If you didn't plan on paying your taxes, shame on you. Maybe you should have saved because you knew they were coming. Just because they are late didn't mean they weren't coming at all. Your a fool if you din't budget. Second, someone made a comment about income taxes, and people with summer homes not paying. Have you ever thought of sales taxes? How about all those people coming in to ND games? All the visitors to the state that would have to pay our tax when they purchase something here. Don't have to increase income taxes, increase sales taxes. Then, implement a game day tax for the Saturday home games. Everyone is crying that ND is losing and that local businesses are hurting because of it. What do they tell you $3-6 million per game comes in to Michiana? Have a 2-3% tax and low and behold there is a lot of money coming in. It could be upward $1 million for the season. Free money from outside people not from Indiana. Think people, have someone pay it.
Posted by: Larry Location: Rolling Prairie on Sep 28, 2007 at 10:47 AM
First of all, I do not see how one can compare Charlie's house to any previous tax when last year his house was an open field. second, how can you blame the democrats on this?? This is a result of a change in the way properties are valued, using market datra. I am affraid to see my tax bill as it used to be based upon my house being valued at a true cash value of 30,000. Now if my home-equity loan appraisal is correct my home will have a tav value of 105,000. So my taxes should go up by 3.5 times the former amount. The only silver lining to this is the fact that I am a business owner (farm) and my business inventory tax will go disappear.
Posted by: Chaz Location: South Bend on Sep 28, 2007 at 10:43 AM
Jeff, how on earth can you blame this on democrats when it's a republican Governor?
Posted by: Mike Location: Mishawaka on Sep 28, 2007 at 09:20 AM
OK, let me sort this out in my head. Huge amounts of cash from selling the toll road. Huge increases in property tax revenues. Cutting police off the force because the budget needs to be reduced. Waiting around until it's too late to prepare for the property tax bill, thus shafting a lot of people and putting them into debt. Am I missing something here? What are they doing with our money?!?! VOTE THESE INCOMPETENTS OUT OF OFFICE
Posted by: marc Location: south bend on Sep 28, 2007 at 08:28 AM
I thought that in the U.S. our government is supposed to protect us. Not rob us. I honestly think we could loose our home. We don't have much why are they taking it away from us?
Posted by: Tikaralee Location: Warsaw on Sep 28, 2007 at 05:42 AM
This is carp how much the taxes have increased, but getting rid of the proprety taxes isn't the answer, they would just tack it onto the income tax, and people with summer homes here don't pay income taxes here. The questions no one askes though is where is this money going? Our schools and local governments are facing shortfalls, our roads faling apart, these are where our taxes are supposed to be going, why all of a sudden is it really not enough??
Posted by: anonymous Location: south bend on Sep 27, 2007 at 10:58 PM
look how long we have had to wait for these bills and we will have to pay within 3 weeks or so. shouldn't we get a 10% discount because the government was so late in getting them out? We have to pay 10% if we are late paying.
Posted by: Jeff Location: South Bend on Sep 27, 2007 at 10:53 PM
Thank the Democrats for the HUGE Tax Increase! They love to raise your taxes at every chance they get so they can make the government even bigger. That's how the Democrats operate in this country. So blame your fellow Democrats and blame Lueke too, he's a fool that needs to be out of office in November, I sure hope he doesn't win!
Posted by: Mike Location: Elkhart on Sep 27, 2007 at 10:21 PM
I have been reading on this web site for months about the problem with vacant houses in South Bend. So how did they fix the problem?? They raised taxes which will create more vacant houses. Houses that they collect no taxes on. I used to own several rental properties in South Bend and this is the exact reason I no longer own them. The last I knew they were all vacant. The government be it local or state create their own problems then complain they can't balance the budget. For most people the only thing you continue to pay taxes on after you buy it is your home. Why??? I don't pay taxes on my television or stove or dining room table why do I have to continue to pay on my home?? Property taxes need to be eliminated. They are unfair to the people and create an extreme hardship on the lower income and elderly people.
Posted by: Bryan Location: Shelbyville on Sep 27, 2007 at 07:56 PM
No wonder Pat was against a special session, his bill dropped by 3%. Something fishy going on here.
Posted by: s Location: goshen on Sep 27, 2007 at 07:07 PM
and the government will still complain about not having enough money or what they call "a shortfall." when is it enough. we a literally being taxed into poverty.
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