Governor appoints new property tax chief

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	Friday, July 13, 2007
	Governor appoints new property tax chief Indiana Gov. Mitch Daniels on Friday appointed a new commissioner of the Department of Local Government Finance at a time when property tax bills in many parts of the state have increased dramatically. Daniels said his appointment of Cheryl Musgrave, president of the Vanderburgh County Commissioners in Evansville, comes as the role and duties of the state agency are probably more important than ever before. Musgrave replaces Melissa Henson, who resigned on June 29.   Dutch court clears way for LaSalle Bank sale The Netherlands' supreme court has ruled that ABN Amro Holding NV is not required to seek shareholder approval to sell its LaSalle Bank unit. Today's decision clears the way for the sale of LaSalle to Bank of America, of Charlotte, N.C. LaSalle Bank, headquartered in Chicago, has virtually no retail presence in Indianapolis, instead focusing on commercial services. Indianapolis banking industry observers have said they think Bank of America might try to buy another bank to gain a local retail presence.
	Plan for Midtown project wins preliminary endorsement A hearing examiner for the Metropolitan Development Commission yesterday recommended approval of zoning changes requested by developers of Tower House on Meridian. The proposal, from locally based Inner-Urban Homes & Hospitality, incorporates the existing Grain Dealers Mutual Insurance building along Meridian Street and would add a 14-story tower including a six-floor.   Two prominent businesses bid farewell Corner Gourmet on the north side and Steck Plumbing, a neighborhood institution on the near-north side, have closed their doors. Read Property Lines, IBJ 's real estate blog. IU grad Cuban applies to buy Chicago Cubs Mark Cuban, the Indiana University business major who went on to become a billionaire and buy the Dallas Mavericks basketball team, has applied to Major League Baseball as a next step in his interest in buying the Chicago Cubs, according to the Dallas Morning News . Several other people, including John Canning, who runs a Chicago private equity firm, reportedly are interested in buying the much-loved but usually hapless team from Chicago-based Tribune Co. Progress underway on Glendale Town Center For the latest on renovations at the former Glendale Mall, check Property Lines. IBJ's real estate blog has a slideshow showing progress, along with a new rendering of the Target store. From IBJ staff and Associated Press-Compiled by Norm Heikens Truck stop killer claims two Indiana victims Police in Nashville, Tenn., say they've caught a serial killer who may be responsible for two murders in Indiana. Bruce Mendenhall, 56, of Illinois reportedly has confessed to killing six women at truck stops around the country. Metro Indianapolis police are looking for links to unsolved murder cases. Fox 59 News will have the latest at 10 p.m. Search continues for missing postal worker Crews are still looking for a missing Hancock County postal worker. John Jordan, of Knightstown, was last seen Wednesday afternoon delivering mail on his route in northwest Greenfield. His cell phone and wallet were found in his abandoned mail truck. Police and colleagues spent Thursday searching the wooded banks of Potts Ditch.
	Mayor and treasurer announce tax plans Indianapolis Mayor Bart Peterson is proposing $75 million in property-tax relief through additional homestead credits. Peterson wants to delay juvenile-jail and child-welfare costs the city must pay, and borrow a portion of the local income tax to offset the property-tax increases. Meantime, Marion County Treasurer Mike Rodman wants to allow residents whose property-tax bill went up at least 10 percent to pay last year's tax bill amount plus 10 percent, with the balance being paid in installments by next May with no penalty. Fishers will not force Geist annexation The town of Fishers has given up on efforts to forcibly annex Geist. The Fishers town council voted unanimously to withdraw four proposed ordinances aimed at involuntarily annexing more than 20 Geist neighborhoods. The town council president says he's now focusing on the possibility of a voluntary annexation.
	What do you think about income, property tax hikes? Mayor Peterson is proposing a hike in Marion County income taxes to pay for public safety. Should the mayor have delayed this request in light of the steep jump in property taxes?  | What is the best time-saver you've come up with at work?   Visit IBJ's Web site, www.ibj.com       Indianapolis Business Journal has launched a redesigned Web site with news updated throughout the business day.     At www.ibj.com you will find the latest business news from the Indianapolis area and around the state, video of IBJ events, CEO interviews from the Inside IBJ radio program, and our weekly podcast.
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