This past week saw municipal councils across Northwest Indiana hold their first meetings of 2026. The bodies took up land use matters, municipal finances and a historic tax abatement deal.
Here is a look at some of what was decided this week.
Crown Point City Council: Date of meeting: Monday, Jan. 5
Key takeaways:
At its January meeting, the Crown Point City Council approved a zoning change sought by the Crown Point Community Foundation, a grantmaking nonprofit that serves southern Lake County, on both first and second readings. The organization plans to spend roughly $2.9 million on a new office space on a Marshall Street property that was previously zoned for residential use.
Watch the video on Crown Point's YouTube channel.
Michigan City Common Council:Date of meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 6
Key takeaways:
The Michigan City Common Council voted to approve a contract extension with the union that represents the city's police officers. The one-year deal will grant officers a 2% raise and otherwise leave the terms of the previous collective bargaining agreement in place. This marked a concession on the part of the city, which had sought to pair a raise with a cut to retiree benefits during negotiations last year.
Michigan City's firefighters, who like the police officers saw a labor agreement expire at the end of 2025, still lack a new contract. The fire union's president told The Times earlier this week that his membership has also been offered a 2% raise and a yearlong contract extension.
Watch the video on the Access LaPorte County YouTube channel.
Portage City Council: Meeting date: Tuesday, Jan. 6
Key takeaways:
The Portage City Council approved or advanced a series of items related to residential housing development programs, offer will deliver financial incentives to five developers building residential subdivisions in the city.
The body also approved a fiscal plan related to the proposed annexation of 47-acres to the south of the current city line and near the intersection of County Roads 700 North and 625 West. Indiana developer Olthof Homes plans to develop a new subdivision, dubbed "Sweetwater," with a mixture of single- and multifamily units on the site. A preliminary concept shared with the city shows a total of 148 units.
The council also carried over the annexation ordinance itself, and will take a final vote on the matter during its February meeting.
After council Democrats and Republicans tied votes for the body's president and vice president roles, Mayor Austin Bonta cast tie-breaking votes to elect Councilwoman Victoria Vasquez, R-3, and Councilman Ferdinand Alvarez, D-at large, respectively.
Watch the video on Portage's YouTube channel.
Gary Common Council:Date of meeting: Tuesday, Jan. 6
Key takeaways:
The Gary Common Council heard a presentation from financial consulting firm Baker Tilly, which the city contracted to develop a comprehensive financial plan. The company's representatives recommended that the council consider adopting a municipal local income tax (LIT) next year, an option that the city will gain when it loses access to county LIT funds under a new Indiana local taxation law.
The council also elected new officers during its 2026 reorganization meeting. Councilwoman Linda Barnes-Caldwell, D-5, will serve as president of the body and Councilman Darren Washington, D-at large, will serve as vice president.
Facing a special use petition to allow an industrial wet processing facility on East 15th Avenue, the council voted to send the item back to the body's planning committee.
Watch the video on the Gary Common Council's Facebook page.
Hobart City Council: Date of meeting: Wednesday, Jan. 7
Key takeaways:
Over the objections of some angry residents, Hobart's city council voted 6-0 to approve a hefty tax abatement deal with Amazon's cloud computing arm, which plans to build a data center complex south of 61st Avenue. In exchange for a 10-year property tax break, the tech giant will provide Hobart with an up-front payment of $47 million. Tens of millions more will follow as the roughly $11 billion project hits predetermined construction milestones, including $45 million that will be due at the end of 2026 if vertical construction begins this year.
Many of the project's opponents are concerned about possible noise or light pollution from the planned facility, and some have speculated that the data center will depress surrounding property values.
Watch the video on the city of Hobart's website.
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