After some political posturing by Porter County Democrat Auditor this week, I thought I'd do a bit of digging to get to the data behind the easily mis-construed headlines. (via NWI Home Finders Blog)

Auditor Jim Kopp, who has been roundly denigrated by community leaders and even some elected Democrats in Porter County, announced that 2010 tax bills will be sent out on time. Times article. Just so we're all on the same page, Porter County was the 60th county to certify net assessed values in Indiana, not exactly setting land speed records. But it is a start.

The actual target date for net assessed values to be certified is August 1, 2009 and until last week Porter County was one of only two counties, including LaPorte County that were having their trending studies completed by the state. If you recall the assessments were deemed so poorly conducted that the state had to step in this year in Porter County. And in LaPorte County the DLGF has asked the County Prosecutor to remove the assessor from office for doing such a poor job.

Although some accolades for getting Porter County closer to the goal, let's be honest about the performance of the offices of Auditor and Assessor in Porter County. It's time for competent new leaders in both offices, we're all a bit embarrassed by years of poorly conducted assessments and overdue property tax bills. The law states that properties should be valued at market value, and that we should have bills due and payable May 10 and Nov 10 each year. That's the job of these two officials. For two years we've been an entire year behind, and this year's bulk one time bill has created havoc for mortgage lenders and homeowners.

Some have suggested that electing these two officials will never result in competency, since politicians make poor auditors and assessors. If this is the case, and I might be persuaded to agree, where is the outcry for county reorganization from both parties and elected officials? It seems very quiet ...

Related Porter County Indiana Posts:

• Porter County Elections - Daily update
• Cal Township Assessor ordered to repay funds
• Reporter to run for County Auditor