The Hammond City Council introduced Ordinance 25-10 — “an ordinance to appropriate funds in the hotel, motel, innkeepers tax fund for economic development purposes in 2025” — and set a public hearing for the council meeting on May 12, 2025.

Mayor told the council he had discussed the budget effects of a proposed convention center adjacent to the Hard Rock Casino and said, “So far, we have down $13,000,000 in our budget, much of that lost to Hard Rock.” He also said he has met with local stakeholders, including the chief executive officer of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Bureau, and with leaders of Horseshoe Casino and other private developers.

The mayor also reported ongoing redevelopment interest in the city’s old Walmart property in the Third District; a developer ownership transfer is underway and the site is being discussed as part of a water-park expansion plan. He noted a separate project on the campus of Purdue University Northwest — a third dormitory described as roughly a $30,000,000 project — is breaking ground.

At the meeting, Councilman Spatelli moved the ordinance through first and second readings, and the council set the public hearing for May 12 during the council meeting (the clerk clarified the hearing time is during the meeting, not a separate 5:15 start). The council recorded the procedural vote as ayes; the introduction carried and the hearing was scheduled.

Why it matters: Ordinance 25-10 would allocate hotel-motel tax revenue for economic development purposes and comes as city leaders weigh where convention facilities are located in the region and how those facilities affect local revenues.

Ending: The city will hold the public hearing on May 12; councilmembers and members of the public will have the opportunity to comment before the council takes any final action on the appropriation.