Ag economist presented Hovde Award for rural service
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - A Purdue University agricultural economist who has helped countless Hoosiers better understand tax and government budgeting issues is the 2009 recipient of the Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to Rural People of Indiana.
Larry DeBoer of West Lafayette received the award Friday (Nov. 20) at the Indiana Farm Bureau convention in Fort Wayne, Ind. The award honors Purdue staff with a record of outstanding achievement and service to rural communities.
"Larry is the leading state and local government public policy analyst and educator in Indiana," said Jay Akridge, Purdue's Glenn W. Sample Dean of Agriculture. "On the Web, in print and in meetings across the state, he works to bring sound economics to public choices using a non-advocacy approach.
"The result is a more informed public debate, and, ultimately, more efficient and equitable policy decisions at the local and state levels. Larry's outreach program is a tremendous example of Purdue Extension at work, and the Hovde Award reflects the difference he has made across our state."
For more than 24 years DeBoer has studied state and local fiscal policy. He frequently works with elected officials and school administrators in rural communities on budget and property tax issues. He's made numerous presentations on fiscal and property tax assessment to government, agricultural, education, business and public groups.
DeBoer shares his expertise through a Local Government Information Web site, a monthly "Capital Comments" newspaper column and podcasts. He also consults with the Indiana Legislative Services Agency about tax and finance issues and analyzes the fiscal impacts of riverboat gaming on local governments for the Indiana Gaming Commission.
DeBoer developed a tax impact model that was used extensively during the state's 2002-03 reassessment and tax restructuring. In 1997-98 he directed the staff work for the Citizen's Commission on Taxation, a group established by the governor to study tax reform in Indiana. DeBoer also directed a study on market value property tax assessment for the Indiana State Board of Tax Commissioners between 1995 and 1999.
"Larry DeBoer's impact is felt all across rural Indiana, both directly and indirectly via his contact with public decision makers in Indianapolis and in local government," said Ken Foster, head of Purdue's Department of Agricultural Economics. "His tireless effort to instill sound economics into public choices in a non-advocacy framework epitomizes the mission of the Frederick L. Hovde Award of Excellence in Educational Service to Rural People of Indiana."
The Hovde Award is sponsored by Indiana Farm Bureau and carries with it a monetary prize. The award is named after Purdue's seventh president, who served from 1946 to 1971.
Writer: Steve Leer, 765-494-8415, sleer@purdue.edu
Sources: Jay Akridge, 765-494-8391, akridge@purdue.edu
Ken Foster, 765-494-4191, kfoster@purdue.edu
Ag Communications: (765) 494-8415;
Steve Leer, sleer@purdue.edu
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