Residents urge council to rethink 10‑year abatements and flag traffic, school concerns

Two residents used the public‑expression period at Hammond’s May 11 council meeting to press officials on tax abatements and neighborhood impacts.

Mary Shones said the city’s practice of granting 10‑year tax abatements undermines local schools, which she said face a $4 million shortfall. “Giving a business a 10‑year tax amnesty when our schools are having a $4 million budget shortfall is not sound fiscal practice,” Shones said. She urged the council to reassess incentives for profitable companies and questioned whether those projects could contribute more to the city’s general revenues.

George Stoya raised concerns about traffic and parking tied to the Dairy Bell and laundromat project at 1719–1733 Indianapolis Boulevard, saying the site is near schools and that drive‑through lines could create congestion. Stoya also urged city leaders to reconsider the city’s posture in an ongoing federal case referenced during public comment and to evaluate the fiscal and legal risks associated with current policies.

Council members acknowledged the speakers and reiterated that the economic development committee will schedule a developer presentation and a public hearing. No immediate policy reversals were made at the meeting; the comments were entered into the record and will be part of materials the committee and council consider during upcoming hearings.

The meeting record shows the council passed several development resolutions the same night, and residents asked that committee review address parking, traffic mitigation and the fiscal tradeoffs of abatements.