Indianapolis, IN
Indiana lawmakers want to repeal Indianapolis’ special downtown taxing district
In the waning hours of the 2023 legislative session, lawmakers inserted into the state budget the ability for Indianapolis to create a special taxing district to spruce up the downtown and address homelessness.
Now there’s an effort underway to take it back, even as the city has already set the district into motion, with the approval of a new tax at the City-County Council’s final meeting of 2023.
Republican Rep. Julie McGuire of Indianapolis filed House Bill 1199 to abolish the city’s “economic enhancement district,” with support from Rep. Jeff Thompson, R-Lizton, the House’s lead budget writer. McGuire and Thompson had voted for the state budget; neither could be reached for comment Tuesday.
The City-County Council approved the new tax by a party-line vote. The now-threatened tax would be a flat $250 annual fee for homeowners and about 0.17% of other property owners’ assessed value, amounting to about $5.5 million in the first year for cleaning up downtown and supporting a low-barrier homeless shelter, among other initiatives. Collections would begin in spring 2025.
The late state budget add last year came as a surprise some of the General Assembly, as the proposal was finalized during closed-door negotiations.
In the months since, an anonymous group of Mile Square business and property owners opposed to the taxing district has pledged to lobby lawmakers to change or get rid of it. Former House Speaker Brian Bosma has been a public spokesperson for the group, DefendDowntown.com, which says it is concerned about how the tax will affect the cost of living and working downtown. The website doesn’t list any names.
Bosma argued in an op-ed in the Indianapolis Business Journal that renters could bear the brunt of potential fee increases, which may force people to leave downtown. The ordinance states that any increases cannot exceed the inflationary adjustment as determined by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis.
Bosma also criticizes the fact that city leaders created this district without a vote from property owners.
Five of the district board’s eight members will be property owners, however.
The concept of a tax for a central business district isn’t new. Large cities have been instituting and reauthorizing such downtown taxing districts for decades. Downtown Indy Inc. led an effort in 2018 to create a similar taxing district through a petition process but faced strong opposition from the Indiana Apartment Assocation, and the campaign couldn’t get at least 50% of property owners to sign.
Last year, as the country tried to bounce back from the pandemic, Downtown Indy received $3.7 million from the federal American Rescue Plan Act to pay for cleanliness, public safety and homelessness initiatives downtown. The goal behind the economic enhancement district was to create a sustainable funding source to continue this work.
“We have to ensure that downtown isn’t just looking and feeling its best around big events, but that we have the ability to offer tailored, property-specific service, 365 days a year,” CEO Taylor Schaffer said.
The Indy Chamber talked to lawmakers about the idea during the 2023 session, not realizing it would come to fruition so soon, said Taylor Hughes, vice president of policy and strategy.
Then the Chamber spent the remainder of the year meeting with property owners in Mile Square to gather input on how much the fees should be and what specific initiatives they should fund, he said.
“We have worked really hard to build a solution that people can feel good about and that we think will begin to solve some of these really big problems; that doesn’t mean it’s the perfect solution,” Hughes said. “There might be opportunities to refine it. But we do need something. So the idea that a bill would be introduced to repeal what has been a really robust conversation, I think is pretty concerning.”
Republican Sen. Kyle Walker of Lawrence, who played a key role in getting the initial language added to the budget, said he did not anticipate the starting point for this session’s negotiations to be a full repeal, and said he doesn’t support that. Rather, he would support discussing more guardrails.
Walker said he thinks the district will help with both real and “perceived” problems downtown.
“Downtown certainly can be safer and can feel safer,” he said. “I’m not suggesting there’s not necessary improvement for public safety downtown. But I also believe that part of downtown’s issue is more perception-based, and I think the EED can address both of those.”
Contact IndyStar state government and politics reporter Kayla Dwyer at kdwyer@indystar.com or follow her on Twitter @kayla_dwyer17.
The Indianapolis Colts host the Detroit Lions in NFL Week 12 action.
The game will be shown on Fox in four NFL markets: Indianapolis Detroit, Cleveland and Cincinnati. The vast majority of Michigan, Indiana and Ohio will get the broadcast, as well as slivers of Illinois and Kentucky.
When do the Colts play the Lions in NFL Week 12?
1 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024, at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.
How to watch Colts vs Lions in NFL Week 12
Fox, with Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Jonathan Vilma (analysis) and Megan Olivi (sideline reporting).
How to stream, watch Lions-Colts game for NFL Week 12
The Colts-Lions matchup will stream on Fox Sports app at 1 p.m. ET Sunday, Nov. 24, 2024. The app is available in the Apple App Store or on Google Play. Fans can also download NFL+ in the Apple App Store or on Google Play.
How to listen to NFL Week 12 Lions-Colts game on radio, streaming
Radio: 93.5, 97.1, 107.5 FM in Indianapolis, with Matt Taylor (play-by-play), Rick Venturi (analysis) and Larra Overton (sideline reporting)
Streaming: SiriusXM Channels 228, 813
What a deal!: Watch Colts-Lions on Fubo (free trial)
The Indianapolis Colts (5-6) have arguably their toughest test of the 2024 season this Sunday as they host the Detroit Lions (9-1) at 1:00 p.m. E.T. at Lucas Oil Stadium.
The Lions are revered as one of the best teams in the NFL, but it’s important to find out more about them ahead of time beyond what’s commonly known nationally. Are there areas the Colts can take advantage of to provide fans some hope, or are the Lions the giants they are perceived to be?
This week, Horseshoe Huddle exchanged questions with John Maakaron of Detroit Lions On SI to uncover more. Check out HH‘s answers for Lions On SI here!
HH: Jared Goff is playing out of his mind this year. What do you think is the biggest thing that Ben Johnson and Goff are leaning into to reach that level of efficiency?
JM: The Lions have placed an emphasis on taking care of the ball, and outside of the game against Houston, Goff has been very good at that. That’s not to say that he only makes safe throws, as the veteran quarterback has pushed the ball downfield as well. He also has several talented route runners around him, as they are able to beat coverages and get open on what seems like every play. All of this adds up to Goff being able to put the ball wherever he wants it, whenever he wants it.
HH: Given the short distance and indoor playing facility, this probably won’t feel like a typical road game for the Lions, but how differently do they play on the road versus at home?
JM: The Lions’ fans have traveled very well over the last several seasons, and with Indianapolis being a relatively short distance away, it’s likely that many fans make the trip. The team feeds off the energy that its fan base provides, and the fans take pride in making road stadiums feel like Ford Field. As a result, the Lions have played with a little extra edge in their road games.
HH: Is there a weak link on that Lions offensive line?
JM: When everyone is healthy, the Lions’ offensive line is one of the best units in the league. There have been some struggles at points this season, but overall, the unit has been solid and has lived up to expectations. Taylor Decker had some struggles for a stretch but looked better after returning from injury last week. As a whole, there are few issues with the group, but pass protection can always be improved upon.
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HH: How is the Lions defense at defending the pass over the middle of the field?
JM: This is an area that the Colts can test on Sunday, as veteran linebacker Alex Anzalone will be out for the first of what is expected to be between six-to-eight weeks. Jack Campbell fits the physical profile of an ideal middle linebacker with his size, but has room to grow in coverage. Still, the safety tandem of Brian Branch and Kerby Joseph has been elite this season and will make throwing the ball difficult, particularly over the middle of the field where both often lurk.
HH: Who wins and why?
JM: The Lions are hoping to get their ninth consecutive win. The Colts present a unique challenge with Anthony Richardson’s rushing abilities, as well as the threat he presents with his arm. However, he has been mistake-prone, and Branch and Joseph feed off mistakes. On offense, Detroit has been able to run the ball effectively for most of the season regardless of opponent, and this opens up the passing game. Indianapolis challenges early, but the Lions make enough plays to win comfortably: Lions 35, Colts 17
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The Indianapolis Colts need everything they can to defeat the Detroit Lions at Lucas Oil Stadium tomorrow afternoon. While there are plenty of players to highlight in this cross-conference battle, all Colts fans’ eyes will be on quarterback Anthony Richardson and whether he can build on a solid week 11 victory. Bleacher Report‘s Brad Gagnon believes this game against the mighty Lions will be a big one for Richardson’s outlook.
Is the sudden resurgence of Anthony Richardson a sign of things to come or an aberrational performance from a dude who is talented enough to put those together on occasion? Sunday’s matchup with the Lions will be telling.
– Brad Gagnon | Bleacher Report
Richardson can’t let up with Detroit, as the Lions have an impressive 14 interceptions led by safeties Kerby Joseph (7 interceptions) and Brian Branch (4 interceptions). The Lions also boast a solid run defense, ranking 5th in the NFL with 94.8 yards allowed per contest. In short, while the Lions’ defense is exploitable without defensive end Aidan Hutchinson and linebacker Alex Anzalone, they still take the football away from reckless passers.
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How Richardson plays at home tomorrow against arguably the Super Bowl favorites will paint somewhat of a picture of what type of quarterback he can be. The Colts offense has great weapons like Jonathan Taylor, Josh Downs, Michael Pittman Jr., and Alec Pierce to help Richardson progress Shane Steichen’s attack. Still, it will need to be at 100mph to keep up with a scary Lions offense led by coordinator Ben Johnson and quarterback Jared Goff.
The Colts are still in the mix for a playoff hunt in the AFC but will probably see their toughest game of 2024 when Detroit visits the Circle City. The Lions’ brutalizing offense has put up 52 points on two occasions this year (Tennessee Titans and Jacksonville Jaguars), so the Colts can’t afford many miscues on offense or defense. However, Richardson’s performance will likely decide if the Colts are or aren’t in the game.
Want more Colts content? Check out the latest episode of the Horseshoe Huddle Podcast!
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