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player ready...Porter County will offer a series of workshops beginning Monday to help taxpayers better understand their property tax bills, assessments and the appeals process.
Porter County Treasurer Jimmy Albarran and Porter County Assessor Sue Neff will offer the one-hour workshops timed to correspond with the arrival of the 2025 Pay 2026 tax bills.
“All of this is different and it’s hard to follow,” Albarran said. “I’m on my way to talk about it with the auditor.”
He said there are a lot of changes this year. For example, there’s a new discount for seniors that requires an application. “The old levels were lower levels (of income). It was a significant increase,” Albarran explained of the allowable income maximum. “Also, your house could not be over a certain value” in the past, but now there is no limit on home value to qualify, he said.
There’s also a new exemption for veterans who have a 100% disability rating, though the application for that will not be available from the state until after July 1.
The workshops will aim to clarify for people the Supplemental Homestead Credit, “which people will confuse with the Supplemental Homestead Deduction,” Albarran said. Even the professionals find it dizzying. “It’s confusing my staff,” Albarran said.
Albarran stresses that while he’s trying to raise awareness of a variety of discounts, “the expertise in that is always from the auditor’s office.” He said they “can answer questions in full because that is what they do.”
When homeowners think they’re ready to apply for a credit, deduction, or exemption, Albarran encourages them to call ahead to the auditor’s office to ensure they are bringing in all the necessary documentation and avoid multiple trips.
The workshops will be offered at the following times and locations: Monday, April 13 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Hebron Public Library, 201 Sigler St. in Hebron; Tuesday, April 14 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the Kouts Public Library, 101 E. Daumer Rd. in Kouts; Thursday, April 16 from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m. at the South Haven Public Library, 403 W 700 N, in Valparaiso; Monday, April 20 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Portage Public Library, 2665 Irving St. in Portage; Tuesday, April 21 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Thomas Branch of the Westchester Public Library, 200 W. Indiana Ave. in Chesterton; and Tuesday, April 28 from 6 to 7 p.m. at the Valparaiso Public Library, 103 Jefferson St. in Valparaiso.
Shelley Jones is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.