Across the United States and the United Kingdom, local governments are making pivotal decisions about property taxes, incentives, and support schemes that could reshape the economic landscape for businesses and households alike. From Indiana to Texas, Illinois to Lincolnshire, the latest moves by city councils and district authorities reveal a complex balancing act: spurring investment, supporting vulnerable citizens, and responding to the pressures of inflation and legislative change.
In Edinburgh, Indiana, the Town Council on August 25, 2025, unanimously approved a five-year personal property tax abatement for Ditech Inc., a well-established automotive components supplier. The abatement, which applies to a nearly $2 million equipment expansion at Ditech’s facility on South Main Street, is designed to foster continued growth and job creation in the region. According to the Daily Journal, the phased abatement will begin with 100% tax relief in the first year, gradually decreasing to 60% by the fifth year. After that, the abatement disappears entirely.
Ditech, which has operated in central Indiana for over 31 years, specializes in manufacturing tubular products and exhaust components for motor vehicles. The new investment will equip the plant with advanced machinery—such as a laser, compressor dryer, washer, bending and endforming cell, and welding equipment. Alongside this modernization, Ditech plans to hire six new employees at an average wage of $22 per hour, all while retaining its current workforce of 163.
The company’s history with tax abatements is extensive. Since 2005, Ditech has received a series of five- and ten-year abatements, including a recent ten-year real property abatement in 2024 for a $900,000 expansion and a $3 million equipment upgrade in 2023. However, this time the council opted for a shorter, five-year term—a move influenced by anticipated changes in Indiana’s state legislature. Julie Young, Edinburgh’s planning director, explained at the meeting, “The legislature has passed several changes to the personal property tax and so the largest changes are scheduled to take effect in 2028. So passing property tax abatements like personal property may be something that the town council doesn’t consider.” Young added that a five-year abatement “bridges the gap” until new state rules kick in.
Not everyone was satisfied with the decision. Ditech owner Nate Dillingham argued for a longer abatement, saying, “This was a pretty significant investment. I mean, it’s over $2 million.” Despite his concerns, Dillingham ultimately agreed to the five-year deal, after council members and the company’s attorney confirmed the arrangement was standard practice for the current economic climate.
Meanwhile, in San Angelo, Texas, property tax discussions are taking a different turn. On September 2, 2025, the San Angelo City Council convened to consider a proposed increase in ad valorem taxes for the 2025-2026 budget year. According to Concho Valley Homepage, the proposed rate would raise taxes by 0.79470 cents for every $100 of property value, directly impacting homeowners across the city. The agenda also included hearings on other expenditures and grant proposals, but the tax increase was front and center, with the council set to determine how best to support municipal government operations amid rising costs and growing needs.
Property tax adjustments are not just an American story. Across the Atlantic, West Lindsey District Council in Lincolnshire, UK, is inviting residents to participate in a consultation on its Local Council Tax Support Scheme for the 2026-2027 financial year. The scheme, which has been in place since 2013 after the abolition of the national Council Tax Benefit, is designed to help low-income and vulnerable households pay their council tax. For the coming year, the council proposes to update the premiums and allowances used to calculate entitlement, aligning them with new figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) effective April 1, 2026. This change aims to ensure that the support remains fair and responsive to national standards.
Pete Davy, director of Finance and Assets at West Lindsey District Council, emphasized the importance of the scheme: “Our Local Council Tax Support Scheme is a vital lifeline for many households across West Lindsey. By aligning our premiums and allowances with the Department for Work and Pensions’ national figures, we can ensure that support remains fair, up to date, and targeted at those who need it most. We encourage residents to take part in the consultation and share their views.” Residents have until October 6, 2025, to submit their feedback via the council’s website. Notably, individuals who have reached state pension age are protected by national regulations and will not be affected by the proposed changes.
Elsewhere, in DeKalb, Illinois, city leaders are grappling with the challenges of economic development amid inflation and tariff pressures. On August 26, 2025, a groundbreaking ceremony marked the start of construction for a Marriott-branded hotel on a vacant 2.5-acre property at 902 Peace Road. The project, led by Pramit Patel of EO5 Hotels, will bring 61 Fairfield Inn and Suites rooms and 59 TownePlace Suites rooms to the city, all sharing amenities like a lobby, meeting room, and swimming pool.
Yet, the $23.2 million project has faced an unexpected $4 million increase in costs, which Patel attributes to rising tariffs and inflation. To help bridge this “funding gap,” Patel requested a 10-year hotel-motel tax sharing agreement from the city. Under the proposed deal, the company would receive 90% of the hotel-motel tax revenue in the first year, with the percentage decreasing annually to 50% from the fifth year onward, capped at a total of $2 million over the decade. The hotel, though located in the DeKalb County Enterprise Zone, does not qualify for local property tax abatements, as it is classed as a non-industrial use. However, it may still benefit from state-level sales tax exemptions for building materials.
City officials have responded positively to the proposal. Second Ward Alderwoman Barb Larson voiced her support, stating, “I would support this because I do know that there are some events that we’re not even in the running for because we don’t have enough hotel rooms. Even if you count Elgin and Rochelle, we don’t have enough. So, to have more hotel rooms available and the quality that you’re putting up, I think it would be a great benefit to DeKalb.” Mayor Cohen Barnes echoed the sentiment: “Not only do we miss out on events, but we have multiple events that every hotel room is taken. People are going to Sycamore. They’re going to Rochelle, Batavia or Geneva. This is a great opportunity to expand the amount of rooms that we have to be able to ... keep those people here locally, which definitely would attract more people here while generating some hotel-motel tax revenue.” The council reached a consensus and directed staff to prepare an ordinance, with a final vote expected later in September 2025.
These stories, stretching from the American Midwest and South to the heart of England, highlight a common thread: local governments are making tough choices to keep communities thriving, businesses growing, and vulnerable residents protected. Whether through targeted tax abatements, thoughtful support schemes, or innovative revenue-sharing agreements, the intricate dance of tax policy and public need continues to shape the places people call home.
