Council Questions Hospital Abatement Compliance

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A hearing is set for this month to give Porter Regional Hospital leaders a chance to respond to a finding that the operation is not in compliance with terms for a decade of tax breaks. Our partners at The Times of Northwest Indiana report hospital officials say they are in compliance based on a construction investment of more than $130 million. Members of the Porter County Council say the tax abatement package is based on assessed valuation, not construction costs. A hearing on the matter is set for June 24.

Hospital Chief Financial Officer has told council members the abatement conditions have been met and the operation has been “a good corporate citizen.”

Council President Dan Whitten says allowing the tax benefits on a lower assessed value would not be fair to taxpayers.

Porter Regional officials believe the value is $39.3 million, but an assessor hired by the county places it at $244.5 million.Source: The Times of Northwest Indiana