Advertise on podcast: Capital Comments

Purdue ag economist of Larry DeBoer has been writing Capital Comments once a month for 25 years. Last month marked the 300th column. Let’s do one more, number 301. And let’s look back.

The Indiana General Assembly passed a bill to reform property taxes back in April. If the legislature makes no changes — a big if — we know what’s going to happen each year until 2031. Purdue ag economist, Larry DeBoer, predicts what the next six years of property taxes could look like.

The Indiana Constitution of 1851 had a very broad idea of what should be taxed by the property tax. Basically: tax everything. When the policy proved impractical, exemptions were added. It was the beginning of a trend. Purdue ag economist, Larry DeBoer, explains the most recent tax exemptions and how we got there.

It’s been hard to follow the many impositions, cancellations, negotiations and pauses in tariff policy. Purdue ag economist, Larry DeBoer, explains what tariffs are and how they might affect businesses and the consumer. Capital Comments reflects and contains agricultural economics Professor Emeritus Larry DeBoer’s analysis and views.

Indiana uses an assessment standard for property taxes called “market value in use.” The assessment is the value of the property decided by the county assessor for tax purposes. It’s a prediction of what the house could sell for, on the open market, if it continues in its current use. How much would a stranger pay for your house, if they want to live in it, and not convert it to some other purpose? Purdue ag economist, Larry DeBoer, explains.

Sometimes taxes cost more to collect than the revenue they generate. Back in 2015, the Indiana General Assembly recognized one example. Purdue ag economist, Larry DeBoer, explains the personal property tax exception and how it's evolved over the past decade.

The governor signed Senate Bill 1 into law on April 15, 2025. The property tax impact of this bill has been talked about a lot. But the bill also makes big changes in the second most important local tax — the local income tax, or LIT. Purdue ag economist, Larry DeBoer, explains.

Each spring the county treasurer reminds us just how complicated the Indiana Property Tax is, by mailing form TS-1, “Taxpayer and Property Information.” It’s a one-page summary of how they get from the assessed value of your house to the amount you owe on your property tax bill. Listen to learn about what's coming to your mailbox soon!

The Indiana General Assembly is debating property tax reform.  Senate Bill 1 is a focus of the debate.  The original bill introduced in January included the new Governor’s campaign promises for property tax relief. Get insights from Ag Economist, Larry Deboer.

Property taxes on farmland went up a lot in 2023 and 2024. They’ll be going up a lot in 2025 too.  The reason is the rise in the base rate of farmland. The reason that’s been rising is the pandemic. Economist, Larry Deboer, gives the details in this month's Capital Comments.

The holiday season is here, and with it a chance to read or watch Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. Listen to learn the strange connection between Ebenezer Scrooge, "surplus population" and British economist Rev. Thomas Malthus. Purdue ag economist, Larry DeBoer, explains.

Suppose we want to cut property taxes for homeowners. How could we do that? Purdue ag economist, Larry DeBoer, explains.

Last week the Federal Reserve changed its interest rate policy. What did the Fed do, and why? Purdue ag economist, Larry DeBoer, explains.

How do we know if a recession has started?  Sometimes it’s obvious.  In March 2020 during the pandemic emergency, weekly applications for unemployment insurance jumped from 200,000 to 6 million.  There was no doubt we were in a recession. More often, it’s hard to know if a recession has begun. Ag Economist, Larry Deboer, explains.

Closeout day in the Indiana State House is near and dear to the number crunchers among us.  That’s the day the State Comptroller and the State Budget Agency tell us about revenues, expenditures and balances for the just-ended fiscal year.