(WSBT) Another elected official is joining the push to eliminate property taxes.

Homeowners' property tax bills will rise an average of 24 percent statewide.

In Elkhart County, the average increase is 25 percent.

Elected officials have called the situation a crisis, and said action needs to be taken soon.

One Elkhart city councilwoman wants to do away with city property taxes all together.

Councilwoman Mary Olson says she will present a resolution to her fellow council members asking them to demand state lawmakers do away with property taxes, a system she says is unfair and broken.

Olson was joined by Elkhart Mayor David Miller as well as State Representative Jackie Walorski at a press conference Tuesday.

All three are also pushing a petition drive asking for signatures from those who support doing away with property taxes. In the last couple of weeks they’ve gotten over 7,000 signatures.

When it comes to doing away with property taxes, Councilwoman Olson says the difference could be made up in other ways, including sales and income taxes, which she says would be far more fair and equitable.

She hopes her resolution will send a strong message to state lawmakers.

“It’s a nonbinding piece of legislation that will add that extra push to the House and Senate members saying, ‘Remember us folks back home,’” she explained.

The proposed resolution has also been sent to 3,500 cities and towns across the state. Councilwoman Olson is the former president of the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns, and she says she wants those municipalities to get on board the challenge.

Some lawmakers say it would be impossible to eliminate property taxes, but Olson says it’s time to think outside of the box.