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Muncie Land Bank asks county for $2.8 million over five years to expand countywide
Summary
The Muncie Land Bank proposed an interlocal agreement to expand countywide, outlined tax-sale backlogs and asked commissioners for $2.8 million in unallocated ARP funds over five years to acquire and stabilize vacant properties.
Nate Howard, executive director of the Muncie Land Bank, presented a proposal April 7 asking Delaware County commissioners to consider expanding the land bank’s service area countywide through an interlocal agreement and to provide new financial support.
Howard said the land bank’s proposal would (1) expand its jurisdiction beyond Muncie, (2) systematize its right to acquire unsold tax-sale properties under clear criteria, and (3) seek county and city funding commitments and legal support to lower acquisition costs. The land bank requested $2,800,000 over five years, targeted from unallocated ARP funds, to acquire and stabilize properties and scale operations.
Why it matters: Howard said vacant, abandoned and deteriorated properties impose costs on neighbors, reduce assessed values and create public-safety and maintenance expenses. He presented tax-sale analysis covering 2022–2024 showing roughly 1,700 properties auctioned, about 670 sold and about 80 remaining unsold at the most recent rounds. He said many unsold parcels have been to the tax sale multiple times; some have been through the cycle six-plus times on average.
Details the land bank presented: - Of roughly 1,700 properties auctioned from 2022–2024, about 63.6% of properties that went to tax sale at least once later went unsold at some stage, and many have returned multiple times. - Between February 2011 and February 2024, unsold properties averaged about 6.34 tax-sale cycles, Howard said. - The land bank has sold 76 properties to date; Howard said none of those returned to the tax sale after sale under the land bank’s vetting and follow-up process. - Howard cited examples of costs borne by jurisdictions for long-term vacant properties, referencing studies from South Bend and national sources to illustrate demolition, maintenance and public-safety costs.
Commissioner response and next steps: Commissioners asked for more detail about outcomes, timelines and how property values might be used as matching funds for grants. A motion to table discussion on the land bank proposal passed; commissioners asked staff to do further review and said the item would return on a future agenda.
