This from the Office of Wabash Mayor Scott Long: WABASH, IN- The following is a message to the Wabash community about property tax legislation:
Ten years at the helm of our city have given me perspective on what matters. While promises of tax cuts sounds appealing, we should be clear-eyed about our state’s goals for property tax relief.
Let me share some hard numbers that directly affect our community. As introduced, the property tax proposal would severely hamper Wabash’s long-term finances. While tax reform is welcome, eliminating personal property taxes for businesses at $3,050,000 annually, plus another $2 million drop in property tax revenue is not. This comes on top of the $1.2 million already returned to taxpayers through property tax caps.
“Replace, Don’t Erase” has been our consistent stance on taxation. The legislators pushing SB 1 have failed to provide any replacement funding mechanism for the vital services you depend on daily- like public safety and parks among other things.
What would this mean for Wabash specifically? Difficult choices lie ahead if these cuts pass. We may need to limit access to the Honeywell Pool or be forced to implement charges for trash pickup. And if the accompanying road funding bill passes, we’ll likely need to implement a wheel tax just to remain eligible for Community Crossing grants- which currently fund approximately half of our road maintenance.
Our city administration has worked diligently to maintain stable tax rates, averaging about $1.82 per $100 of assessed valuation over recent years. In fact, the City Council, our Clerk-Treasurer, and I have managed to significantly reduce our rate from its 2020 high of $2.11. We’ve been responsible stewards of your tax dollars.
The MLGQ freeze component of the legislation is also particularly troubling. Capping growth at 0% in 2026, 1% in 2027, and 2% in 2028 creates a mathematical impossibility when inflation runs 3-5% annually. This isn’t about wasteful spending- it’s about maintaining basic infrastructure and services in the face of rising costs that exist in the real world.
Some might question why the City Council adopted a resolution opposing these measures if they seem inevitable. We did so because silence equals consent, and I refuse to silently watch as our community’s foundation is undermined. Even if this legislation passes, citizens deserve to know exactly why their services are being reduced and who made those decisions.
The coming months will likely bring tough conversations about municipal priorities. I promise to face these challenges with the same transparency and fiscal responsibility that have guided us for the past decade. But I urge you to contact your state representatives and tell them the truth: tax relief that requires gutting essential services isn’t relief at all.
Wabash deserves better than empty promises and mathematical impossibilities. We deserve honest solutions that maintain our quality of life while addressing genuine concerns about tax burden. That’s what I’ve fought for these past ten years, and what I’ll continue to advocate for regardless of what happens with legislation in the statehouse.
Scott Long, Wabash Mayor
