Plan commission approves Boyd Boulevard TIF amendment after Microsoft offers to rescind tax agreement
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Summary
The commission approved a resolution amending the Boyd Boulevard economic development plan after presenters said Microsoft offered to rescind a prior taxpayer agreement and not seek local incentives, which would allow the city to collect full property taxes and reallocate TIF revenues for public safety, education and child‑care projects.
The La Porte Plan Commission voted to approve a resolution recommending an amendment to the declaratory resolution and economic development plan for the Boyd Boulevard allocation area after presenters said Microsoft had offered to rescind a prior taxpayer agreement and decline local incentives.
Bert Cook, executive director of the La Porte Economic Advancement Partnership, summarized the change: the city’s redevelopment partner reported that Microsoft, which owns about 489 acres and is under construction, “came back to the city of La Porte to say, we are willing to wipe the existing taxpayer agreement… which means that they will, ultimately pay, full property taxes, on their project here in La Porte.” Cook said the amendment would adjust the TIF allocation area accordingly.
The resolution submitted to the plan commission cites state law and the municipal plan process and adds projects in an Exhibit A. The resolution text referenced Indiana legal provisions including sections of Indiana Code related to redevelopment (IC 36‑7‑14 and related subsections) and allowed tax increment revenues to be used for eligible purposes such as acquisition or construction of projects to enhance public safety, payments for police or fire services serving the area, educational and training programs (IC 36‑7‑25‑7), and, to the extent legally permissible, grants or loans to encourage construction or operation of child‑care facilities in or serving the allocation area.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about the geographic scope and whether the amendment pertained to Microsoft’s currently owned property; presenters clarified the action applies to the property Microsoft currently owns and is not addressing a separate annexation matter that will return to the board for zoning recommendation.
After opening and closing a public hearing with no comments, a commissioner moved to approve the resolution, a motion was seconded and the commission voted in favor. The chair noted the secretary will file a copy of the 2026 resolution with the meeting minutes.
The plan commission’s approval constitutes the commission’s written order that the 2026 resolution and its amendments conform to the city’s plan of development; the measure will be recorded with the minutes and advance the redevelopment amendment for any further procedural steps required by law.
