Smaltz: Keeping Indiana's focus on affordability

For Hoosier families, affordability is not just the price of one bill or one tax. It is whether a paycheck goes far enough to cover a mortgage or rent, property taxes, healthcare, utilities and the other costs of everyday life. Indiana has been working to address these pressures and lower costs for Hoosiers, and I remain committed to building on that progress during the 2027 legislative session.

Indiana has cut taxes every year over the last decade, saving taxpayers nearly $27 billion. This is more of your money back in your pocket. We've cut Indiana's personal income tax from 3.15% in 2023 to 2.95% today, with another reduction to 2.9% coming next year to get to one of the lowest income tax rates in the nation.

Property taxes are another area where lawmakers have acted. Property tax reforms passed last year are projected to save Hoosier homeowners $1.3 billion over three years. It includes a new 10 percent property tax credit on all homesteads and additional relief for seniors, veterans, farmers and small businesses. It also phases in a major homestead deduction. By 2031, homeowners will only pay property taxes on one-third of their home's assessed value.

But affordability cannot stop at the tax bill. It also means making sure Hoosiers can afford the basic services they rely on.

Healthcare is a major part of that equation. In 2025, I co-authored House Enrolled Act 1004, which targeted high prices at nonprofit hospitals and strengthened transparency to help drive down healthcare costs for Hoosiers. A 2026 state report shows major Indiana hospitals complying with this law and offering prices below the required threshold. There is much more work to do but we are moving in the right direction.

Utilities are another household expense where predictability matters. In 2022, I co-authored the law that eliminated Indiana's utility receipts tax, a move that provided more than $220 million in annual relief. And this year, I supported House Enrolled Act 1002, which holds utilities accountable for affordability, provides more predictable billing and strengthens protections for residential utility customers.

Housing deserves that same attention. Northeast Indiana has demonstrated what affordability can look like when communities continue to grow. Fort Wayne was ranked the third-best city in the country for first-time homebuyers in a study that considered factors including housing costs, market strength and affordability. Last session, I supported legislation to remove unnecessary regulatory barriers that can restrict housing supply and drive-up home prices. Indiana is leading the Midwest in population growth, and we must have housing to meet this demand at a price people can afford.

Ultimately, the most meaningful way to improve affordability is to give Hoosiers more opportunity and bigger paychecks. Economic development is an important part of that because a growing economy creates opportunities for people to earn more, build businesses and invest in their communities. Indiana's economic development efforts have already attracted significant investment. The Indiana Economic Development Corporation reported $38.3 billion in committed capital investment through the first three quarters of 2024, a record at the time.

Affordability and economic growth are not competing goals. They reinforce one another. Families need good jobs, businesses need a strong workforce and communities need investment to provide the infrastructure and services that make them attractive places to live.

It's critical now that we build on Indiana's momentum and keep affordability at the forefront. I will continue looking for practical ways to lower costs, expand opportunity and make sure Indiana remains a place where Hoosiers can afford not just to live, but to get ahead and thrive.

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State Rep. Ben Smaltz (R-Auburn) represents House District 52,
which includes all of DeKalb County, and portions of Noble and Steuben counties.
Click here to download a high-resolution photo.

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