By Jim Shella
24-Hour News 8 at Noon

INDIANAPOLIS - A coalition of taxpayer groups met at the statehouse Thursday morning to demand the elimination of property taxes.

The Indiana Property Tax Repeal Alliance is made up of ten organizations from around the state.

Members cite Greg Ballard's surprise win in the Indianapolis Mayor's race as evidence that large numbers of people agree with them.

The group led by attorney John Price wants to replace property taxes with higher sales and income taxes.

It made its point standing in front of the Indiana House Chamber.

Members object to the Kenley Commission Plan released this week, calling for a 50-percent reduction in property taxes. They also oppose the Governor's plan to slash property taxes by a third.

"The purpose of the alliance is to insure that the taxpayers heard in this election very soundly will be heard in this chamber and the chamber across the hall," said Price.

"Our representatives are not representing us. It's time that we start taking note of this and the people take our government back," said Jim Premeske with the Team Hammond Taxpayer Group.

What group members didn't outline during their rally is how high sales and income taxes would go under their plan. They said those numbers will be part of a professional study released in a couple of weeks.

Coming up on 24-Hour News 8 at 5:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., why the tax repeal alliance cited the WISH-TV Indiana Poll in Thursday's announcement.