(WSBT) Local and state officials call Indiana's property tax situation a crisis. Monday, one representative called for change starting right now.

Representative Jackie Walorski wants state leaders to look for a long-term fix.

She made her remarks in Elkhart County where property tax bills have gone up an average of 25 percent under the state's new property tax assessment system.

Representative Walorski is one of a number of local and state officials responding to the public's outrage over a tax system everybody is calling "a crisis."

Richard Horner just opened his property tax bill.

"I think it's insane,” he told WSBT News.

His tax rate shot up 36 percent — double the rate from 2003.

"I don't see how they can do this,” said Elizabeth Ebbole.

Ebbole feels his pain. The assessed value on her restaurant properties in Roseland and Elkhart more than doubled.

"I don't know how we'll pay the tax,” she said.

They were among nearly a dozen home and business owners on hand Monday to hear Representative Jackie Walorski's call for permanent relief to a system she calls hopelessly broken.

"We need the leaders of our state to convene a panel of experts from IU and Purdue and from the fiscal tax institute and from the think tanks in this state that gives us as legislators concrete options to change the taxation system in this state,” Walorski said. "This tax system does not work.”

Hundreds of Hoosiers agree.

Four hundred people rallied outside the governor's mansion last week to protest their increase. Some saw rates go up 100 percent.

In addition to Walorski's call for action, two Republican senators have also responded to the public outcry, asking the tax and fiscal policy commission to hold hearings on the problem and find ways to fix it.

“The American Dream is dying here, of home ownership, if people — especially those who are on a fixed income — cannot pay their taxes as it would be," said Horner. "This just can't go on in this system that we have right now.”

Representative Walorski says a property tax overhaul should be priority number one as soon as soon as lawmakers return to the statehouse in January.

That's when she wants that panel of experts to present their suggestions.

Walorski called on leaders at the statehouse to convene this expert panel immediately.

House Speaker B. Pat Bauer said the state tax commission and a study group are already looking into the problem.

Governor Daniels has said if lawmakers want to call a special session to deal with property taxes, he would consider it.

Some lawmakers say they already provided some relief this year in the form of rebate checks to be mailed at the end of the year to help offset the increase.

But as WSBT News reported last week, you had to have filed for a homestead exemption last year to get that rebate. Thousands didn't — so they won't be getting one.

Click on the link in the Related Content box to read the entire letter Rep. Walorski sent to legislative leaders.