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December 29, 2004 Governor Joe Kernan Indianpolis, IN RE: Property at 630 W. Washington St. South Bend, IN Parcel 18-3047-1793 Dear Gov. Keman: We are asking an urgent favor of you in hopes you will be able to intervene in some way on our behalf. We ran into Luther Taylor yesterday and I asked if he thought it was a good idea to contact you. He urged us to do so in hopes you could help us out with a phone call to the appropriate parties on our behalf. We know that there were thousands of people affected this year with the increase in property tax. We know we are not alone in our shock and dismay at the drastic increase we received on our property tax. (Our tax bill in 2001 was $3,040. Our tax bill for 2003 was $10,072.) However, there is no doubt in our minds that this property should reap some tax relief due to 1) the historic significance of this property; 2) the fact that the fagade was donated to the Historic Preservation Commission; and 3) the large amounts of money it takes to preserve the appearance of the property. Other homes in our area, that are classified the same grade as ours (B) have received a significant Obsolescence Depreciation percentage. Some of them are the Queen Ann Inn at 420 W. Washington (10%), the home of Alan Larkin at 627 W. Washington (18%), The Cushing Manor Inn at 508 W. Washington (15%) and the apartments at 803 W. Washington St. (across from the Northern Indiana Center for History (66%). The last two structures also have fagade preservation easements with the Historic Preservation Commission as well. It just doesn't make sense to us that the more you spend on your property to maintain it, the more you get taxed on it. Why do those that let their properties deteriorate get the higher percentages of depreciation? Where is the tax benefit to those of us who take pride in out properties and want it to look it's very best? Why doesn't someone care about small mom and pop businesses trying to make a living in this old downtown historic district? We appealed the decision with the Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals on the advice of John Voorde. Since he was no longer the Portage Township Tax Assessor (much to our dismay) he did file a form 130 for us with his recommendation for a 70% THE OLIVER INN BED & BREAKFAST 630 W. Washington St. South Bend, Indiana 46601 Phone (219) 232.4545 Fax (219) 288-9788 E -Mail: oliverOmichiana.org Website: http://michiana.org/users/oliver m