Capital Comments

Purdue Agriculture

Timely topics on public policy issues related to state and local government in Indiana published once a month.

  1. 10/23/2025

    Looking Back 25 Years

    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.

    6 min

  2. 09/10/2025

    Property Tax Reform: Phasing Out, Phasing In

    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.

    6 min

  3. 08/27/2025

    The Incredible Shrinking Tax Base

    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.

    6 min

  4. 07/29/2025

    Are Higher Tariffs Causing Inflation?

    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.

    5 min

  5. 06/26/2025

    Indiana’s County Assessors Predict Home Values Well — and that’s the Problem

    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.

    6 min

  6. 05/20/2025

    The Personal Property Exemption: Not so Minimal Anymore

    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.

    6 min

  7. 04/23/2025

    The Big Property Tax Bill Also Reforms the Local Income Tax

    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.

    6 min

  8. 03/25/2025

    The Indiana Property Tax: It’s Complicated

    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!

    6 min
See All (150)

About

Timely topics on public policy issues related to state and local government in Indiana published once a month.

Information

  • Creator
    Purdue Agriculture
  • Years Active
    2008 - 2025
  • Episodes
    150
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Purdue Agriculture
  • Show Website
    Capital Comments