Standing up for Taxpayers!

Working to eliminate St. Joe County’s Additional Property Tax!

In 2008, Indiana passed the 1-2-3 property tax cap law. Homeowners' property taxes are capped at 1% of assessed value, rental properties and farms at 2%, and commercial real estate at 3%.

While the 1-2-3 property tax caps are law in the State of Indiana, St. Joe County residents are paying more!

Indiana Code 6-1.1-20.6-7.5 allows St. Joseph County as an "eligible county" to exceed the 1%, 2%, and 3% caps in order to pay debt service or make lease payments for bonds or leases issued or entered into before July 1, 2008. St. Joseph County is eligible because of “debt service” for economically misguided projects such as the Football Hall of Fame in downtown South Bend.

This law was worded in such a way as to hide the fact that it was tailor-made for St. Joe and Lake Counties, making them an “eligible county.” This contradicts the spirit, if not the letter, of our State Constitution Article 4, Section 23 which states,

In all the cases enumerated in the preceding section, and in all other cases where a general law can be made applicable, all laws shall be general, and of uniform operation throughout the State.

But this is not the case with the 1%, 2%, 3% property tax caps in St. Joseph and Lake counties. This is simply not justice! Timothy Wesco will work and fight for legislation, such as was in Senate Bill 250 in the 2010 short session, to eliminate this tailor-made exclusion of St. Joseph County from the property tax caps.

Timothy Wesco believes the taxpayers of St. Joseph County should not have to pay for fiscal irresponsibility. Rather, these governments need to cut back and redirect funds from elsewhere to cover these irresponsible debts.

Mailing

Wesco Radio Commercials

Radio Spot One:


Radio Spot Two:

Help keep these commercials on the air!

Indiana State Government Mini-Seminar

Timothy Wesco, a homeschool graduate and candidate for Indiana State Representative District 21, will host an informative session about our state government. We will take a practical and educational behind-the-scenes look at how our Indiana government works. This seminar is a great addition to any government or social studies course.

DATE: Friday, April 23

TIME: 7:00-8:30PM

PLACE: Republican Headquarters
4133 S. Main Street
South Bend, IN

RSVP: Tim and Christy Hanlon

treasurer@timothywesco.com or 559.325.4846

• Do you know how our Indiana state government creates the laws we all live by in Indiana?
• Can you name any Indiana state representatives or state senators?
• Do you know how many state representatives and state senators are in Indiana?
• How does the campaign process work?
• How do you become a candidate for office and what is involved in the campaign process?
• How can I participate in the political process?
• What is a page and how can I volunteer to be one?

These questions and many more will be answered in this free, informative seminar. Students and parents are invited to participate.

We hope to see you there!

Preserving Township Government

“Every man and every body of men on Earth
possess the right of self-government.”

-Thomas Jefferson

Timothy believes localized, “close to the people” township government needs to be preserved and improved in Indiana!

As a Penn Township Firefighter, Timothy Wesco has taken great interest in understanding the role, functions and history of township government. As a result, he has come to regard it as an important and effective form of governing that must be preserved and improved.

Originally proposed by Thomas Jefferson in 1784, townships are embedded in Indiana’s early history being formed here prior to our becoming a state in 1816. We are one of twenty states that currently have some form of township government.

Even though most people know little about how township government works, here in the 21st District and across Indiana, the townships represent an essential key to democracy: a locally controlled government which is close to the people. The more localized a government and the more access the people have to that government, the better it is. This is what Jefferson intended in his original proposal--a government that stems directly from the people or, in other words, self-government.

Repeatedly over the past six years, the question of eliminating townships has been raised in Indiana. Indianapolis law makers are diligently seeking to do away with this locally controlled form of government. The first battle came in 2004 with House Bill 1155 which proposed total elimination. Since that time, each session of the General Assembly has heard bills to either reform or to completely eradicate township government.

The tragedy of such bills is that they end local control over fire protection, poor relief and the tax rates that pay for these services. Small rural communities would no longer have the votes.

Here in St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties, if the southern townships lose self-government, the major urban centers of South Bend, Mishawaka and Elkhart (where there are far more votes) will control rural taxes and the rural fire service. This is not a representation of the people; it obstructs the essential principle of self-government.

Timothy Wesco believes we should strive to encourage townships to work together and to be more efficient, but he is committed to opposing any measure that would eradicate township government. Township government is a vital part of our state government and embodies the very principle of government of, and by, the people.

Related links:

Wesco Endorsed by Township Trustees

Related video:

Nappanee Meet & Greet

You and your guests are invited to a

"Meet & Greet"

In support of

on Tuesday, April 13,

at 7:00 p.m.

Main Street Coffee House

105 N. Main Street

Nappanee, IN 46550

Coffee and Desserts will be served.

The event is open to the public to come and meet Wesco and share any concerns and questions, or to support his campaign.

See you there!

Family & Friends Spaghetti Dinner

Thanks to all who came out and showed their support for Tim this past Tuesday by attending our Wesco campaign Family & Friends Spaghetti Dinner! It was an awesome evening with over 120 in attendance and exceeded our fundraising goals; thanks to so many generous friends. It was an evening enjoyed by all with plenty of food, a silent auction, Timothy Wesco for State Representative word search, games for the kids and much more!

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Thanks to our Sponsors and Volunteers that made this event possible: Ann Stefaniak, Nathaniel Wesco, Christy Douglas, Risinger Family, and many others.

Thanks to those who donated homemade cakes, and other items for our auction.

Christy did a great job heading up games for all the kids.

Word Searching!

We have 5 more weeks to the primary! Let's keep working hard to make a difference here and now! Let's go, WESCO!