Did you read this

Spring taxes delayed, says the News Sentinel. I reported Saturday that you would receive your tax bill in the mail in June. But, Robert Lee states, that I am wrong. That the bill that you should have received in MARCH, you will receive in JULY. But you will still have the NOVEMBER DATE FOR THE SECOND HALF.

Allen County Treasurer Robert Lee announced that spring taxes will be delayed this year because of adjustments to property values. This is the first time the adjustment has been implemented in Indiana, joining 48 other states.

Yeah right, the first time, my behind. The first time the adjustment is called trending. Remember all those computer glitches, instead of saying oops no we did not go out and assess all these properties in the proper manner.

However, Lee has started a property tax e-mail system to keep taxpayers updated on when tax amounts are in and when they are due. Register at www.allencounty.us/treasurer.Tax bills are expected to be ready the beginning of July.

I found that gem in the police brief in the newspaper. Right there in the criminal section of our newspaper, what a fitting place to locate such news for our taxpayers. Go see for yourself, I am not making this stuff up. Do you really want these folks to have your email address? These are the same folks who did not send a man a certified letter and his property was sold. Property sold at a tax sale. I don't think email is a good way of communicating with these folks.

Now the big question for me is why are our property tax bill so late? I know what Lee says, but I have my doubts. And it all points to this Harrison Square Park deal. It may be just me, but I suspect they have not priced the property for Jason and Chris. You know our friends at Hardball Capital. Because, the price of that property will determine how much taxes Hardball will have to pay for those condos. And it will determine how much will go into that special fund, TIF.

You know the fund, Jefferson Pointe TIF expansion. TIF will freeze the amount that Jason and Chris will have to pay on taxes. Had you ever played the game Freeze. Well that is exactly what is going to happen to the land, that Greg Leatherman, is now trying to do a better job of assessing.

You probably read where Leatherman, stated that he probably overpaid Bill Palace, $2.4 million dollars on property valued at a little over $600,000. Now Leatherman could probably play Mr. Big Spender with taxpayers dollars. But Jason and Chris, our friends, because we are so happy that they are spending $5 million and $15 million more on condos. I don't think Jason and Chris are going to spend an extra penny on over assessed property.

Yeah, I'm thinking that's what happened. Because, when have you known Leatherman, or any elected official, to admit they made a mistake? So, everybody should have went to their window, and saw all that snow falling, and thought it was an indication, that something is not right.

Anyways, back to TIF and our late tax bills from Robert Lee and friends. As you know City Council has not approved the extension of TIF yet. So if our friends, Jason and Chris, want to take advantage of this reassessment they need to move locking in the current value of their downtown investment. As soon as Chris and Jason sign the agreements surrounding property is going to skyrocket. But those who are already in the TIF designation is going to be protected from increases in their tax burden each and every business that's in the area. But, first City Council must approves the TIF district. What you say?

Nope, no new taxes. It is all the folks who comes in afterward. Yep, Hardball is to be the CATALYST to all these new businesses. Businesses drawn to greatness, the field of dreams. You know the saying about if you can't be a mountain, at least attach yourself to one. But you knew that, I'm not telling you nothing you didn't already know.

Why do you think Leatherman and his cliche are running around recalculating figures on land already sold ?!! They, city leaders, have not told you the value of the property for our friends, Jason or Chris. They can tell you everything else. They can tell you projection 20 years out. But they are scratching their heads on the value of that land that, you know the land they already bought by secretly going knocking on folks doors. Did not even tell City Council.

So, my theory is our tax bills are being delayed because we are waiting on our new neighbors. Our friends, Chris and Jason's property to be properly assessed. There is another saying, that you can fool some of the people some of the times, but you can't fool all the people all the time. I think our friends Chris and Jason are teaching our Room for Dreams city that very lesson. I could be wrong.

One of my readers said I sit on a throne of lies. He recently came over and apologized. He also told me he was impressed. But, this blog is all about recognizing, if you don't know you need to ask somebody. And if folks ask, tell them FWAAIW, told you so.