The Republican candidate for Marion County Treasurer needs to prepare better for his news conferences. Especially when they concern hot-button issues like property taxes.

David Moscrip called the media together to discuss his plan to convert tax bills from their current semi-annual format (at least in the relatively few years when the assessments aren’t screwed up) to a monthly format.

There are pros and cons to this idea that deserve debate. It would allow people to pay smaller bills and give them more certainty to plan their budgets over a longer period of time, just like the budget billing by the electric and gas utilities.

But it would also create uncertainty among schools and local government units. Would their property tax revenue come in in two big blocks each year, or in twelve smaller dribbles, forcing them to borrow money to keep operating? And since Moscrip was unclear about whether everybody would be converted to this system or only those who want it, how would the Treasurer send out bills without a previous (and expensive) mailing to determine each taxpayer’s preference?

But the biggest question is: How would you send out monthly bills in a year like 2008 (or 2007), when the assessments and tax rates are all very late and there’s no way of knowing what your final bill will look like? This would seem to be the one question a candidate should have expected before all others and been instantly prepared to answer. But Moscrip stared at me, saying nothing for what seemed like an eternity, before stumbling through an answer about “paying the normal rate” (whatever that is) until final tax rates are available, then making an adjustment.

It was not a good performance and reminded me of some of Greg Ballard’s early news conferences. Of course, Ballard is now mayor. But as most people would concede, those were special circumstances. And unless Moscrip is able to pin the blame for high taxes on Treasurer Mike Rodman, who just sends out the bills and isn’t responsible for their size, he’s unlikely to benefit from having another Bart Peterson opposite him on the ballot.