Sec. 7. (a) The county auditor of a county or fifty (50) property owners in the county may, not more than five (5) days after the publication of the notice required under section 6.5(f) of this chapter, request in writing that the department of local government finance waive the use of a provisional statement under this chapter as to that county for a particular year.

(b) With respect to the use of a provisional statement required under section 6 of this chapter, upon receipt of a request under subsection (a), the department of local government finance shall give notice of a hearing concerning the request in the manner provided by IC 5-3-1. The notice must state:

(1) the date and time of the hearing;

(2) the location of the hearing, which must be in the county; and

(3) that the purpose of the hearing is to hear:

(A) the request of the county treasurer and county auditor to waive the requirements of section 6 of this chapter; and

(B) taxpayers' comments regarding that request.

(c) After the hearing referred to in subsection (b), the department of local government finance may waive the use of a provisional statement under section 6 of this chapter for a particular year as to the county making the request if the department finds that the petitioners have presented sufficient evidence to establish that although the abstract required by IC 6-1.1-22-5 was not delivered in a timely manner:

(1) the abstract;

(A) was delivered as of the date of the hearing; or

(B) will be delivered not later than a date specified by the county auditor and county treasurer; and

(2) sufficient time remains or will remain after the date or anticipated date of delivery of the abstract to:

(A) permit the timely preparation and delivery of property tax statements in the manner provided by IC 6-1.1-22; and

(B) render the use of a provisional statement under section 6 of this chapter unnecessary.

(d) With respect to a determination to use a provisional statement under section 6.5 of this chapter, upon receipt of a request under subsection (a), the department of local government finance shall give notice of a hearing concerning the request in the manner provided by IC 5-3-1. The notice must state:

(1) the date and time of the hearing;

(2) the location of the hearing, which must be in the county; and

(3) that the purpose of the hearing is to hear:

(A) the request of the county treasurer and county auditor to waive the requirements of section 6.5 of this chapter; and

(B) taxpayers' comments regarding that request.

(e) After the hearing referred to in subsection (d), the department of local government finance may waive the use of a provisional statement under section 6.5 of this chapter for a particular year as to the county making the request if the department finds that the petitioners have presented sufficient evidence to establish that although the property tax rate of one (1) or more cross-county entities with cross-county area in the county was not finally determined before the statement preparation date:

(1) that property tax rate:

(A) was determined as of the date of the hearing; or

(B) will be determined not later than a date specified by the county auditor and county treasurer; and

(2) sufficient time remains or will remain after the date or anticipated date of determination of the rate to:

(A) permit the timely preparation and delivery of property tax statements in the manner provided by IC 6-1.1-22; and

(B) render the use of a provisional statement under section 6.5 of this chapter unnecessary.

As added by P.L.1-2004, SEC.37 and P.L.23-2004, SEC.40. Amended by P.L.182-2009(ss), SEC.160; P.L.89-2010, SEC.3.