Indiana’s changing property tax structure relies heavily on homeowners’ homestead exemptions.
Wayne County Auditor Mark Hoelscher told the county commissioners during their Aug. 13 meeting that many eligible county homeowners have not filed for the homestead exemption. He said his office will mail 35,000 tax statements next spring, but only about 17,000 homeowners have the homestead exemption.
“This is a big part of the tax package, and if you don’t have that exemption, you’re going to pay 40% roughly more in taxes without the exemption than with it,” Hoelscher said.
The homestead exemption is available to homeowners for their primary residence. It has consisted of two parts: a standard deduction that reduces the home’s assessed value by the lesser of 60% or $48,000, and a supplemental deduction that further reduces assessed value by 37.5% for less than $600,000 or by 27.5% for more than $600,000.
The legislature this year changed how the homestead exemption impacts property tax bills. The exemption will now include a 10% tax credit that’s capped at $300, and by 2031, homeowners will pay on only 33.3% of their homes’ assessed values.
Hoelscher said he recently spoke to a group about the tax changes and many were unsure if they had filed for a homestead exemption.
“We are finding that there are a lot of people who own homes who have not filed this exemption,” Hoelscher said.
Homeowners must file, but only need to file once for the exemption. Any homeowner with the exemption currently does not need to take action for the exemption to be applied through the new tax structure.
Homeowners can check if they have the exemption by calling the auditor’s office at 765-973-9317 or by going online to the Beacon property records system. To check online, visit beacon.schneidercorp.com and select “Wayne County, IN” then “Property Search.” Use the homeowner’s name or the address to find the proper property record page. On the property’s page, a green box will be visible with the wording “Homestead Deduction has been VERIFIED” under the owner information.
If the green box and “verified” wording is not there, an eligible homeowner should file for the homestead exemption with the auditor’s office.
Projects progress
Commissioners discussed next steps for several projects underway.
The safety bollards installed outside the courthouse were not the bollards that commissioners selected and were not properly spaced when installed. Commissioners agreed to have the bollards removed and made right by the contractor.
Problems also continue with the sound system in the chambers. During Wayne County Council’s public hearing about local option highway user taxes Aug. 6, the system did not work at all, making it difficult to hear any speaker. Commissioners called that embarrassing.
The chambers also have video cameras installed that have not worked properly. Commissioners decided to find a company that can complete the system so it functions as originally planned.
Bids for the courthouse elevator project were due at 10:30 a.m. during the commissioners meeting; however, none were received. The project was split into three parts: removing an existing flue and cutting door openings, relocating a war monument, and installing the elevator. Contractors exploring all three phases attended a prebid tour, but none submitted a bid.
Commissioners deferred a discussion about next steps.
Drainage board
Commissioners also met Aug. 13 as the drainage board, unanimously approving three drainage plans at the recommendation of Surveyor Gordon Moore.
David Inderstrodt of Maze Design presented the plan for Wholesale Construction Salvage on North Mineral Springs Road south of Greens Fork. A pond collects the runoff water that is piped under Mineral Springs Road to a ditch.
A swine facility on North Centerville Road near Williamsburg has a detention basin to collect runoff south of a new building.
The Gateway Industrial Park supplied drainage calculations impacted by a new water tower that will be installed at the south end of Enterprise Road. Moore said there would be no significant runoff from the small area disturbed, and there are existing basins.
Other issues
- Commissioners approved $53,690 to acquire right of way from four property owners for the upcoming Waterfall Road bridge project. Brandon Sanders, the county’s engineer, said the cost was more than normal because of a well and fencing in the rights of way.
- The Wayne County Health Department received approval to purchase a refurbished copier for $1,796.74. The purchase includes a five-year contract for parts, labor and toner.
- Commissioners approved $10,500 for autopsies of two Wayne County residents who died in Department of Correction custody.
- Commissioners approved the closure of Fountain City Pike from Sept. 19-21 for Levi Coffin Days.
A version of this article appeared in the August 20 2025 print edition of the Western Wayne News.