Tax War in Whiting Indiana

Welcome to the new property tax capital of the United States: Lake County, Indiana. The communities of Lake County, Whiting, Gary, East Chicago, Cedar Lake, and Hammond among others, have been devastated by tax legislation and a reassessment that has shifted taxes from the four major corporations in the area and delivered nightmarish bills to the homeowners doorsteps. The culprits: BP Amoco, U.S. Steel, Ispat Steel and Inland Steel, along with their paid and bought politicians.

Just How Did This Happen?

Seeking more ways to increase their bottom line, set out to have their cronies in Indianapolis (none other than the representatives from Lake County itself!) introduce legislation written by the corporations. House bills 1902 and 1858 were passed unanimously in both the house and the senate in 2001 and 2003 respectively.

What Did the House Bills (HB) Do?

HB 1902 allowed the corporations to have the state-rather than the elected county assessor- reassess them. Complying with its corporate mandate, the state reduced the assessment of the big four, drastically reducing the assessed value from 1.5 billion to 328 million (Chicago Tribune, 6/27/04). This resulted in a $700 million reduction in assessments for the big four and a tax shift of over $50 million to the people of Lake County (Media Kit, http://www.indianataxmiasma.us/Default.htm, 11/12/04).

Written by and lobbied for by the corporations, HB 1858 allowed the corporations to drastically reduce the assessed values of their business personal property, far below what was previously allowed by law
(Media Kit, http://www.indianataxmiasma.us/Default.htm, 11/12/04).

206,000 May Face Foreclosure, Are You One of Them?

The results of this corporate greed: the Miller Citizens Corp. estimates 206,000 foreclosures in Lake County. This at a time when U.S. Steel 2nd quarter 2004 earnings show a profit of $211 million. BP Amoco, which reduced their overall tax payment to the city of Whiting by $5.3 million, is # 2 on the Global Fortune 500 list for 2004. Their yearly profits were over 10 billion 267 million (North West Indiana Times, 5/5/04). These corporate giants have waged a full scale attack against the working class homeowners in Lake County. For one resident of Whiting, it has meant property taxes increasing from $400 to over $5000 dollars! I remember standing in her kitchen when she asked, “how do you choose between a home for my children or healthcare”? No one should have to make a choice like this! It is time to Fight Back!

Fight to Win

Property tax bills have increased 200% to 800% for some residents (The Property Tax Crisis is not over!, http://www.indianataxmiasma.us/Default.htm, 11/12/04). Corporations this powerful are prepared to send the residents, families and schools of Lake County into bankruptcy for even more profits. These attacks are not isolated, but part of the larger offensive of capitalism. In the U.S., 5.4 million people spend more than half their income on housing. Only 68% of Americans own their homes. This in a county where corporate crooks like Ken Lay owns 18 properties valued at $30 million. There are 390,000 people in the U.S. filing for unemployment (statistics from the Village Voice, Week of February 6 - 12, 2002).

Lake County residents need help to hold these corporations accountable. With the old steel and energy industries as well as the building trades, organized labor is alive in Lake County. The unions must raise their banners and defend the working people who helped create and build industry in Lake County. In the past, anti-tax campaigns have refused to pay the money demanded by business, and won! This can be repeated in Lake County. The strong handed tactics of capitalism must be matched and thrown back. Can’t Pay, Won’t Pay! Refusing to increase the profits of these corporations and not paying the new tax bills will give power back to the same homeowners that are under the hammer of today’s property taxes. No Cuts in Services! At the same time, Lake County needs to demand that not a dime be cut from schools, libraries, and services. This is not a problem of Government waste, but corporate greed. The corporations must pay, not the residents of Lake County by losing the valued services in the community.

If the working people of Lake County are to win, a movement must grow. The residents must stand together and the labor and activists movement must come to their aid. For a united fight against the corporations, their political representatives and their unfair taxes! For a mass fight to win movement!

Allyson Kennis
Labor’s Militant Voice