Tax relief, school safety impacted by new laws
Also, Indiana Arts Commission invests in local organizations
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New state laws supporting Hoosiers and backed by State Reps. Mike Karickhoff (R-Kokomo) and Heath VanNatter (R-Kokomo) during the 2023 legislative session are now in effect.
"This legislative session, we worked hard to deliver results for Hoosiers and our communities," Karickhoff said. "From providing tax relief to supporting local's efforts to boost housing options, these new laws will help propel Indiana forward."
Most legislation passed during the recent session took effect at the beginning of the state's new fiscal year on July 1.
Under the state's newly passed state budget, taxpayers are expected to save an estimated $430 million over the next two years via tax relief passed during the legislative session. Thanks to the acceleration of individual state income tax cuts, hardworking Hoosiers will have one of the lowest rates in the nation by 2027. Indiana's K-12 spending makes up about half of the state's $44.6 billion budget, and lawmakers supported increasing student funding by 10 percent over the next two years. In addition, parents will no longer pay textbook and curricular fees.
"Most of the legislation we passed is the direct result of input from our constituents who reached out to legislators for solutions," VanNatter said. "From additional tax relief to boosting school safety across the state, these new laws will go a long way to help support our communities."
Following are new laws highlighted by the two legislators:
Providing Tax Relief for Homeowners
Property tax dollars are collected and spent locally, and help pay for schools, police and fire protection, and other local government services. To help counter the rise in local property tax bills, the state took actions to provide about $100 million in property tax relief for homeowners beginning next year. Hoosiers can expect a temporary increase to the supplemental homestead tax deduction and additional limits on property tax levy growth.
Boosting Housing Options
Indiana will partner with local communities to help finance public infrastructure projects like installing water and gas lines, which are critical to serving housing developments. As demand and costs increase, Karickhoff said this opportunity is especially beneficial to rural communities as they work to boost affordability and availability of housing options.
Increasing School Safety
VanNatter said Indiana's successful school safety program that has helped to increase security at over 400 schools across the state will be significantly expanded. More schools will receive help covering the costs of much-needed technology upgrades to have better coordination with local government and law enforcement.
Visit iga.in.gov to learn more about these and other new state laws now in effect.
Indiana Arts Commission invests in local organizations
The Indiana Arts Commission (IAC) announced it has awarded $3,431,351 to 414 nonprofits to fund arts projects and organizations around the state through the Arts Organization Support and Arts Project Support grant programs.
The Commission approved the funding recommendations for the two grant programs. Applications were reviewed by 146 panelists from around the state and country with expertise in the arts, community development, and nonprofit management.
Arts Organization Support grants provide annual operating support for the ongoing artistic and administrative functions of eligible arts organizations. Arts Project Support grants provide funding to Indiana 501(c)3 nonprofit organizations and public entities for a specific arts project or arts activity. Between both programs, 75 of Indiana’s 92 counties will receive funding.
“The projects and organizations selected to receive funding are strengthening our state,” said Anne Penny Valentine, Chair of the Indiana Arts Commission. “The Commission is excited and honored to invest in Hoosier communities, supporting organizations that are doing exceptional creative work to make Indiana a great place to live, work, play, study, and stay.”
This year, changes to the AOS program were made to decrease barriers in the application process, increase support to smaller, emerging, and first-time applicants, and provide more meaningful award sizes to grant recipients through a field-driven input process.
Changes to the program resulted in increased support and access to small organizations and increased average overall award size statewide. The Arts Organization Support program received applications from 36 organizations not previously funded by the program, and funding to smaller organizations and rural communities increased.
In Howard County, the following organizations received grants from the Arts Organization Support program:
Greater Kokomo Economic Development Alliance: $4,000
NOLA WORLD Music & Artwerks (FS: International Marketplace Coalition): $4,000
Kokomo Symphonic Society, Inc.: $11,600
Kokomo Civic Theatre, Inc.: $12,364
Kokomo Park Band: $12,628
Curtain Call, Inc.: $8,739
The Commission also voted to distribute funds from the Arts Trust, which is supported by the sale of the Celebrate the Arts license plate. One Arts Project Support grant recipient from every county with a funded application has been designated as an Arts Trust Project. Funding for these projects is supported in part through the Arts Trust Plate funding. Beneficiaries were selected based on exemplary commitment to community, education, economy, and health.
Howard County’s beneficiary for Arts Trust Plate funding is NOLA WORLD Music & Artwerks (FS: International Marketplace Coalition).
“Art and creativity strengthen the fabric of Indiana’s communities. They promote connection and cohesion, foster the entrepreneurial spirit communities need to thrive, and create the kinds of communities where people want to live,” said Miah Michaelsen, Executive Director of the Indiana Arts Commission. “In every corner of our state, public funding for arts and creativity continually proves to be a high-return investment that improves the quality of life of Hoosiers and drives economic development within our state.”