Local Government Power & Community Impact
The Budget Bill That's Reshaping Indiana Local Government
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Your property tax bill just changed if you live in Indiana. Are you saving any money? Your utility rates are rising. A data center is coming to your town. Here's what they don't tell you: the state cut your local funding first, then sold you 'tax relief' while shifting the burden to your family. The people who decide whether your senior center stays open, whether your fire department responds in 2 minutes or 20, whether your community gets childcare or corporate warehouses—they're elected in LOCAL elections. This isn't about Democrats or Republicans. This is about who shows up when your dad's having a heart attack. This is about who decides if your kids can walk safely to school. This is about who says 'no' when development comes at the cost of your quality of life. Local elections matter because local government is where your life actually happens.
This conversation makes clear: the Old Politics wants you focused on federal drama while local decisions reshape your daily life. We begin to demystifying the how, how local politics impacts your life directly. This is where movements begin. While policy is set at the federal level, execution happens at the local level.
I can’t change the world today, but maybe I can change somebody’s world today.” — Jason Critchlow, Portage Township Trustee
When you just sit down and talk to people, talk to your neighbors in real life without yelling, without Facebook comments, you can break through that.” — Vincent Aguirre Greenfield City Council
Not only did we talk about local politics we discussed the impact of SB1 - Indiana ‘s 2025 Budget Bill because SB1 didn't cut your taxes—it cut your services. The state saved you $300 on your property tax bill while taking $1.5 billion from your schools, libraries, fire departments, and senior centers. Now your local officials face an impossible choice: raise income taxes or fire police officers. This isn't tax relief. This is a shell game that makes local government the enemy while billionaires get $2 million exemptions. Your utility bills are rising. A data center is coming to your neighborhood. The local childcare center is closing. Who decided this? Not Congress. Not the President. The statehouse.
“Here yet again the state government makes local governments the enemy here yet again... It's very tough on local elected officials. They are calling I've heard some a lot of the old dogs call this the worst piece of legislation they've ever seen come out of the state house because it just it universally sucks in almost every single way." — Jason Critell, Portage Township Trustee
“I've often said they nobody wants to pay taxes, but they often are understanding when you're not wasting them. When you make a good pitch for what it is... I can change that. If I if you let me increase this tax rate, I can put an ambulance two minutes away."
What SB1 Actually Does:
Homeowners save: ~$245-300 annually on property taxes (average)
Local governments lose: $1.5 billion over three years (2026-2028)
Schools alone lose: $744 million over three years
Businesses gain: $2 million personal property tax exemption (for data centers, solar farms, NOT small businesses)
The Regressive Tax Impact: What the Data Shows
Income Group Tax Burden (% of Income)
Low-income Hoosiers 6.9% (sales tax, excise tax, etc.)
Middle-income 4.6%
Wealthiest 1% 1.2%
The Shell Game: Property Tax Cut, Income Tax Hike
From Indiana Capital Chronicle [1]:
“Statehouse Republicans are telling you they are cutting property taxes so they can score political points. But let me tell the truth… They’re forcing our local servants to take the heat for raising your taxes.” — House Minority Leader Phil GiaQuinta
“While the state allows us to do it, it was locally controlled... but now Braun can pat himself on the back and force people like me to vote on a 1.2% property or income tax increase or vote against it and say, ‘Yeah, I guess I’m okay with firing five police officers.” ~ Vincent Aguirre
Key Mechanism:
SB1 caps total local income tax rates at 2.9% (down from 3.75%)
BUT municipalities can now impose rates up to 1.2% within that county total
Local governments must choose: raise income taxes OR slash services (fire, police, libraries, senior centers)
Real Impact on Communities
School Districts :
South Bend Community Schools: $27.4 million loss (2026-2028)
Hamilton Southeastern Schools: $26.7 million loss
Carmel Clay Schools: $25.2 million loss
Indianapolis Public Schools: $14 million loss (projected $96M by 2032)
The Data Center Connection
“If it’s going to pollute my community, I’m against data centers. If it’s going to increase our utility rates for our residents, then I’m against data centers. If it’s not going to pay for itself, then I’m against data centers.” ~ Jason Critchlow siting Senate Candidate Mallory McMarrow MI
“That property tax exemption isn’t for the small businesses. That is for the data centers. That is for the solar farms. That is not for me and my business. I’m not writing off $2 million in personal property tax.” ~ Vincent Aguirre
The Strategic Play by the INDIANA GOP:
State cuts local revenue → Communities desperate for revenue → Data centers pitched as solution
But data centers bring: pollution concerns, utility rate increases, limited local job benefits
“This has been a four or five year plan... Microsoft didn’t all of a sudden decide to come here. Amazon didn’t just decide to come here.” ~ Mary
Call-to-Action Framework
For voters asking “Why are my services being cut?”:
Show them SB1 - 2025 Budget Bill - passed April 2025, signed by Governor Braun
Show them their local income tax vote coming in 2026 - what is the status on the local vote to raise your local income tax?
Show them which state reps voted for it SB1!
Show them the $2M business exemption that benefits data centers, not their neighborhood
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