General Assembly group will scrutinize notices

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The Commission on State Tax and Financing Policy will question the value of publishing public notices, according to State Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek.

The General Assembly assigned the commission to study the topic, among others.

Local government units must publish a notice every fall that includes their proposed budget and announces the public hearing where citizens can comment on the budget and its impact on taxes they will have to pay to fund it.

When asked whether the commission was concerned about notices’ utility for taxpayers or with the delivery method (newspapers), Hershman indicated that both aspects would be examined.

During a cordial conversation with Hershman, who chairs the commission, HSPA Executive Director and General Counsel Steve Key pointed out the positive attributes of newspaper publication: independent entity, verifiability, archivability and accessibility.

The commission has not announced which public meeting will hear testimony on the subject.

Other commission members include State Sens. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and Tim Skinner, D-Terre Haute, and State Reps. Eric Turner, R-Cicero, and Greg Porter, D-Indianapolis.

Hershman asked HSPA to examine the present public notice policy and suggest improvements. Key said the association would seek input from members and outside entities to develop a proposal.