A La Porte County Life in the Spotlight: Mike Schultz

The local government and its politicians fly under the radar. The work they do to keep our communities running is often strenuous and unseen. This certainly applies to La Porte County Assessor Mike Schultz, who is an important cog in the county government’s machine.

Schultz primarily deals with the tax information of the county government and its affiliated organizations. He also helps La Porte nonprofits with their tax exemptions, reviewing with them what can and cannot be exempt.

“What we do is analyze sales now compared to our assessments,” Schultz said. “We come up with a gross assessment for the total county. The exemptions and all that can be put on and come up with a tax rate then, which they call the net assessment and the rates would be set on.”

Schultz’s job, without doubt, is complex. Tax information has a tremendous amount of information and unique jargon which can be difficult to parse through. The La Porte government recognizes the importance of a well educated assessor, though, as they require Schultz to continue taking academic courses throughout his term.

“I have to take classes through the association, which are put on by the state of Indiana. I’m what they call a level 3 assessor-appraiser through the state of Indiana, which is the highest you can be. I probably have over five to six hundred hours of continuing education through my career as the assessor,” Schultz said.

Schultz’s journey to being La Porte’s assessor has taught him the importance of maintaining his relationships and forging new ones.

“My degree is in consumer finance, so I’ve always enjoyed helping people,” Schultz said. “Back in 1987 I was elected to the La Porte County Council. I was friends with the assessor at that time, and because the council didn’t have an office, she always let me use a desk in hers. That’s how I started learning the assessment, I’ve always been involved in it.”

Schultz is also a member of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership (LEAP) Board, working with the chamber of commerce to woo businesses into setting up shop in La Porte.

“We try to get businesses to come in. We try to retain businesses that are here. We try to help businesses that are struggling. I give them advice on how it’s going to affect maybe the rate or how the abatement might work versus putting it in a zone to where maybe they’re not even going to pay taxes,” Schultz said.

Schultz has given, and continues to give, much of his life to La Porte County. His job as an assessor may not come to mind when one thinks of local governance, if they think of it at all. Schultz believes that keeping up with the comings and goings of local government is important for its citizens, but especially the younger ones who tend toward political despondence.

“I think for the young person, stay involved in local government,” Schultz said. “What can we find out about their personal life, and what can we do for them? What can we do to make La Porte County a better place? It’s difficult to be in public life, but I’ve weathered it. I’ve been in it for over 30 years now and the name of the game is to get involved, stay involved, and to listen.”