TAXING TIMES: Cancer, taxes, time; a fight on multiple fronts
SAINT JOSEPH COUNTY, Ind. -- Some St. Joseph County homeowners are furious after receiving their new property assessments. Home values are going up, which means so are the taxes. One local couple is worried they could lose their home if the trend continues.
Harold Andrews has battled his share of hardships.
"I don't want anyone to have to go through what I went through," Harold said.
He joined the U.S. Army as a teenager but doesn’t like to talk about his experience.
"I'm sorry, you're not going to pull that out," he said.
When Harold thinks about the future, he can’t help but worry about his wife, Susan Andrews.
"Is Susan going to have enough money to live out her life? My primary concern is Susan," said Harold.
Susan bought their home more than three decades ago for just under $30,000. It has two bedrooms and one bathroom, about 750 sq. ft. on the first floor with an unfinished basement.
The home, located on South Bend’s southwest side off Prairie Avenue, hasn’t changed much over the years, but its value and taxes have.
Last year, Harold and Susan’s property was assessed at $55,300. This year, documents show it’s valued much higher.
"I'm embarrassed as hell," Harold said. "If I wanted to sell this house today, I’d be out of my f-in’ mind to think I’d get $96,000."
Their new assessment, effective January 1, 2025, shows their home and land are now worth $96,700, a nearly 75 percent increase.
"It scares me," Harold said. "It scares me because I’m afraid she won’t be able to afford it."
"This house has been my safety and everything," said Susan. "And then, like I said, with my cancer. And I worry about him having cancer now."
Susan is a two-time cancer survivor. Harold is currently battling stage four prostate cancer.
"I know I’ve got roughly a 10-year window," he said. "How much it’s going to hurt to lose her, I know that day is coming. But I try to do the best I can to make sure she’s well cared for."
"It’s just gotten to the point where it’s scary for me," Susan said. "It’s going to be hard for me to be on my own.
Harold and Susan are on a fixed income. She receives Social Security, and he has 100 percent VA disability.
"I worry about if he leaves me, with these taxes, especially now," said Susan.
"I know I sound angry about it, but I am," Harold added. "I don’t think that’s right. I went into the service to make sure we have our freedoms and liberties."
Now, the couple is fighting two battles: time and taxes.
"This doesn’t sound like freedom or liberty to me," Harold said.
They’ve filed an appeal to have their property value lowered. Harold said it’s worked in the past, and he’s somewhat confident it will work again.
The deadline to file an appeal in St. Joseph County is June 16, 2025.