Auditor

Income Tax revenue for 2021 certified

The state has certified its estimates of local income tax (LIT) revenues that will be distributed in 2021. This tax comes from payroll withholdings from those who work in the county; the 2021 estimates reflect the income taxes generated in 2019. 

Overall, Porter County is expected to see an increase of 5.48% in its LIT revenues. Half of the total is reserved for a credit on homeowner tax bills and for the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority. The other half is distributed to the county and municipalities. 

Did you know? Porter County's LIT rate of 0.5% (.005) is the lowest in Indiana. Only one other county currently has this same rate. The LIT revenues certified by the state are subject to change before the final certification later in the year. The following breakdown shows the distribution to the county and municipalities in both 2020 and 2021.

Coronavirus Relief Funds approved

(Updated 9/23/2020)--Porter County has been awarded $124,271  through the state's Coronavirus Relief Fund, established through the Cares Act passed by Congress. These federal funds reimburse the county's costs for the prevention, treatment and response to the COVID-19 public health emergency. To see the full list of Cares Act reimbursements to counties and municipalities throughout Indiana, visit the Coronavirus Relief Fund site at www.in.gov/ifa, or click here: Cares Act Disbursements.

Below is a summary of the county's COVID expenditures that have been reimbursed, broken down by county department. (Note: We will update this list as additional reimbursements are approved).

Tax Levies and Tax Cap Estimates

Per state statute, the Porter County Council, at its first meeting in August, reviewed estimated property tax levy and tax cap data that will apply to tax bills in 2021. As we have done in previous years, the Porter County Auditor's Office compiled a report for the council containing the state's levy and tax cap estimates for Porter County's taxing units. The report shows that, generally, maximum tax levies are expected to increase in 2021, while revenue losses due to the state's Circuit Breaker tax caps are expected to decline. To see our report, click here: Max Levy and Tax Cap Report.

Summer tax distribution completed

The Porter County Auditor’s office recently completed a special property tax distribution. Porter County's schools, municipalities, and other taxing units received nearly $14.8 million in the "advance" tax draw.

 Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the state this year gave taxpayers more time to pay their spring tax installment without incurring a penalty. The revenue that was distributed in the advance draw represents the property taxes that were paid after the regular May 10 deadline and on or before July 10, the last day to pay without a penalty. Our office distributed more than $130 million in property taxes, excise taxes, fees, and assessments in the regular June distribution. The summer distribution now brings the taxing units back on track with the full amount of property taxes they normally would have received from the spring installment of tax bills.

To view the distribution reports for Porter County taxing units (known as the Form 22), visit the "Settlement Reports" page on the Budget & Finance tab. You can also get there by clicking here.

 Budget austerity measures now in place

The Porter County Council and Porter County Commissioners have jointly adopted a financial resolution in anticipation of potentially negative budgetary impacts due to the coronavirus. The resolution, adopted by the Council on May 26 and adopted by the Commissioners on June 9, calls for several austerity measures, including the following:

• Department heads must seek Council or Commissioner approval before moving forward with filling vacancies;
• Department heads must seek advance approval before authorizing any overtime or compensatory time for employees;
• Department heads seeking an additional appropriation from the general fund must first seek approval to get on the council agenda;
• The Porter County Auditor will utilize inter-fund borrowing to resolve departmental cash flow problems.

Tax rates 2020

The table below shows this year’s property tax rates with a comparison to the 2019 rates.

 To view the adopted budgets for Porter County government, see the "Budgets & Finance" tab or click here.