A sharp increase in data center restriction.

Will more Hoosier voters head to the polls and Indiana communities set to decide on school referendums?

From the television studios of WFYI Public Media.

It's Indiana Week in Review for the week ending October 23rd, 2026.

Indiana Week Review is produced by WFYI in association with Indiana Public Broadcasting stations.

Additional support is provided by ParrRichey.

The number of communities passing a temporary ban on data centers in Indiana is growing.

As Zak Cassel reports, over half the counties in Indiana passed some form of temporary ban on the high tech developments in the summer, about 30 communities had passed some form of data center regulation.

That number has grown to at least 50.

Its concerns about the impact of data centers become a national issue.

The Indiana University Environmental Resilience Institute is tracking the policies.

Therese Dorau is with the institute.

What we're seeing that is new was not really surprising, since July is an increased number of moratoria and also several of those moratoria becoming permanent decisions, whether that is a ban on data center development or an ordinance like an updated zoning code.

In the new data, 32 counties have enacted moratoriums and 14 have opted for regulatory ordinances.

Data center development in four counties is not permitted.

Are data centers a key issue ahead of the midterm elections?

It's the first question for our Indiana Weekend Review panel.

Democrat Lara Beck, Republican Mike O'Brien.

Ebony Chappel, director of brand and community strategy at Free Press Indiana.

And Niki Kelly, editor in chief at Indiana Capital Chronicle.

I'm Jill Sheridan, managing editor at WFYI.

So do you think, Mike, that the data center issue is resonating with voters?

What what's clear if you if you turn on your television?

Yeah.

If you ever touched anything related to a data center or had a data center impact your community, then you have an ad either for you or against you.

but I mean, so yeah, it's a very passionate issue for voters I've never seen, frankly, I've never seen.

I mean, I've worked on Daylight Saving Time, for crying out loud, and I've never seen, you know, even the Central Time crowd wasn't as passionate about Central Time as they are about hatin data centers.

and, you know, so, yes, it's it's clearly something that that people are going to use as a lever.

If a candidate ever came close to a data center vote or took a position on a data center or voted on a data center issue, a siting issue in the legislature or whatever, but, but then on the the flip side of that coin, you try to like, think about long term.

So that's the election.

Yeah.

But you try to think about like long term and look at Lebanon who just came out, or the city council is now saying we renegotiated our our contracts with meta for community impact, payments.

And we're going to use that to eliminate the city's obligation on property taxes.

You could conceive of a scenario where more communities do that and and the property tax crowd and people that are so concerned about property taxes want to eliminate property taxes.

Look at that and go, oh, actually, I kind of want that deal.

Like, how do we get one of those here in my community so I don't have to pay property taxes anymore?

At least the city portion of that.

So yes, in the, in the, in the micro certainly.

it's a huge issue in the election.

But you're also seeing this issue evolve a little bit as the economics of what a data center means in your community.

If you do it right.

it could mean to you, to your, to your tax bill.

And if you have a big enough data center, if you're obviously meant as a different than the Metro blogs here in Indianapolis, and you know that some of these lawmakers do have a voting record now on on data centers, they do.

And it is kind of like still a little bit of the Wild West, but it has become a real touch point.

Well, it does feel like the Wild West sometimes.

I do agree with you on that.

And I think there's it feels like the Wild West on a whole host of different issues.

But I think, I think if you take a step back and you look at the data center issue, it really encapsulates how people feel that the economy is not working for them.

Right.

You've got people who are sitting looking at billion dollar companies getting tax abatements, and a community where, for instance, Decatur Township, you know, their data center is getting a $283 million abatement, but yet they have to have a referendum to fund schools.

You also are looking at two.

We are in a state where we have high utility costs.

So people don't know what that impact is going to be and assume that those rates are going to go higher.

So and then you also look at it from a perspective of local government and people really seeing and understanding how local government works when it comes right down to the zoning level.

And I think zoning and zoning laws and how things are go through those types of boards and commissions, that is really ripe for an overhaul because they're all playing from a very old playbook.

And this is just an issue where there's so much uncertainty, there's so much change that yes, it's going to be top of mind, especially with the economics.

I mean, we have seen, you know, so much change and we've heard from a lot of candidates, you know, a shameless plug for WFYI we did ask was one of our core questions of many candidates, you know, what's your what's your position on this.

And we heard everything from deregulation to, you know, we have to increase energy.

But is this a real opportunity for candidates to be listening to constituents?

Oh well, yeah.

I mean, in the Free Press Indiana poll from last week that there was a specific data center question and 69% opposed it, and I mean, strongly opposed it.

There was only 18% in support now.

And I think part of the reason they opposed it is, I mean, that's great.

And I live in Boone County and I see what Metter is doing there.

But that took us a couple of years, like the first couple of years, all these data centers were coming in and they weren't doing anything.

They weren't paying for their electricity load.

They weren't, you know, giving back to the community.

And so they started to realize they do have to make these investments to make it more attractive to play ball.

And Ebony, I mean, with those investments and considering, you know, that many voters do not look favorably upon data centers, do you think that, that will be something, though, that I think the poll said as well, that, only 5% are going to have it as their top issue once they head to the ballot box.

Yeah, I think it is a microcosm of a larger issue.

So to all the points that have been made, people are are really, being outspoken.

And I think a big part of it is social media activism that is then translated into real life.

So if you look at places like Memphis, Tennessee, which was how that first came on my radar about these data centers being built in residential communities and all of the attention and energy that was around that.

And we've seen that replicated in communities where people who have that kind of thought process from an activism and a grassroots standpoint, have been really compelling and really successful in galvanizing voters around this issue.

But then you peel back the layers and you see even more than we had, the conversation about affordability and all of those things.

So I think that it is results in a situation where candidates, elected officials, have no choice but to pay attention if they want to be regarded as, you know, being relevant within their community and paying attention to what constituent is.

And so, while it may not be the top issue, it is definitely encapsulated in a lot of the other issues which one of the top ones was affordability and government corruption in that FPI polls.

So yeah, well it's now time for viewer feedback.

Every week we pose an unscientific online poll question.

This week's question do you want a data center in your community?

Vote yes or no.

The last question posed to viewers Should Indiana get rid of the death penalty?

77% answer yes and 23% saying no.

If you would like to take part in the poll.

Go to WFYI.org/IWIR and look for the poll.

Well, that new survey of registered voters in Indiana shows a record number of people planned to vote this November.

Samantha Horton reports government corruption and the rise in cost of living are also top issues.

This, as early voting for the general for the midterm election is now underway.

A survey conducted by Bellwether Research for high content partner Free Press, Indiana, recorded 79% of respondents said they were certain to vote.

Another 4% said they already had.

Voter participation in Indiana elections has been historically low.

Only about 61% of registered voters cast a ballot during the 2024 presidential election, placing Indiana in the bottom ten states in the country.

This year's midterm election is a test of sentiment towards current federal and state leadership.

Both governor Mike bronze and President Donald Trump's disapproval ratings outpace their approval.

Nearly 1 in 4 survey respondents said government corruption is their top concern.

Respondents also showed bipartisan opposition to new data centers and rising energy costs.

So, Laura, do you think that Indiana will have an improved voter turnout this year?

Well, I think anything we can do to improve veteran turnout is incredibly important because we do have some of the lowest voter turnout in the nation as well as, we don't make it easy for people to vote here.

So I am very curious, though, to see because people are really motivated.

Affordability is a major issue.

We know that from the Free Press Indiana polls and a number of other polls.

But, I think people are really motivated.

One of the reasons why I think the early voter numbers might be up to is because Donald Trump has said he will militarize.

He will militarize, you know, whatever force he needs to to come and check out the election.

And so I'm wondering if some people are coming out to vote early because it's convenient.

It's easy for them, but they also don't want to get involved in anything on Election Day.

And we've already just found out that the Department of Justice is going to be bringing in, quote unquote, observers to Marion and Lake.

So that could be one of the reasons why people are coming out.

They've got a plan.

The plan is to vote early.

but anything we can do to get more people engaged and more people involved, I think is a good thing.

I mean, we are seeing those increased early voting numbers, and many counties around Indiana right now.

but there's polls showing that Democrats are, you know, saying overwhelmingly that they will vote.

Republicans are a little bit down in that poll as well.

Do you think we'll have, an issue with Republicans showing up?

You know, you never know where the if you've crossed the line and if you can't see it, it's probably because it's behind you, I believe.

Yes, but we'll find out.

But in 16, 18, 20, 22, 24 and now this year, we've had the same polls in Indiana, that have shown Republicans are down that that the the suburbs are, you know, voting, you know, in record numbers.

And it's like they're going to purple and it's never materialized that way.

And then we wake up, you know, the morning after the election and Donald Trump wins by 20 points.

And then everybody, you know, and the legislature doesn't change.

I will say, and I've been involved in a lot of those campaigns, I will say this, this feels different.

You know, I think the I think the the tie between the differences, the tie between the, national politics and state politics being as close as it has been for so long.

when it's down as fast as it is now, it's got to affect us.

and we're changing strategies, you know, for Republican candidates.

You know, in, in Republican areas where we're, like, taking money out of places that we knew were going to be vulnerable or put them in places that we didn't think we're going to be in play at all.

You know, Donald Trump has to go to Kansas and Iowa and South Carolina and like these places where, you know, these people haven't elected a Democrat since reconstruction.

You know, you know, so and and so like all of that, kind of like, you know, you factor all of that in and you go, okay, this there might be something else going on here.

yeah.

And that's something that the poll kind of indicator as well, you know, is that, is that there may be something else going on as people that were polled, you know, had unfavorable opinions of the president and, the governor, they did they had very unfavorable opinions of both.

And when we talked about the Secretary of State, so many people overwhelmingly chose the Democrat as their the Democratic candidate as their frontrunner.

But by I will agree with you, Mike.

It does feel different.

And I think a lot of it has to do with some of the, fallout after the redistricting battle.

I think that that is a key point that has.

Yeah, that localized it.

Absolutely.

And I think that has encouraged a lot of people to pay more attention.

I did read something on WBOI talking about northeastern Indiana and how so many people, they are tracking higher for the absentee ballots than in the 2022 election.

So I think is very enlightening.

and definitely points to a different, issue coming.

One of the challenges to is with redistricting is you had these really intense primaries.

And so right, as Mike knows and Niki, I mean, when you when you're telling everyone how terrible somebody is for and flooding the airwaves for a certain number of period, that's just just going to spill over to the general.

I mean, every year is terrible for like, the primaries they don't change.

Yeah, we know that.

I'm I'm so excited.

And I think, you know, I feel the hype and I feel like, you know, people are engaged.

And then every year in Indiana, I feel like I'm disappointed because people don't show up in the polls.

Yeah.

I mean, sometimes we still end up with the same overall turnout.

Yeah, just a little bit of a different mix between early and election Day.

I will say you can tell that this drag that Donald Trump has is making a difference, because I was looking at some of the Senate races in which in the primary, these candidates had Trump endorsed on everything they own their t shirts, their signs all over their web pages.

Those are gone.

They're just gone.

The New York Times actually did a report on like the the percent of ads.

The Republican ads don't tell anybody.

I read the New York Times but the percent of Republican ads from July to today that include some reference to Trump and it went from like 98% to like 1%.

It reminds me when you're on Election Day, I was talking to a friend of mine and, you know, turnouts up and turnouts up in the certain area.

And then later on that night, it was like, yeah, turnout was up.

They just weren't coming to vote.

That's it.

Yeah.

And that's what you kind of have to also think about as well is it's just it's an art and a science and data that's been around it, and it can break your heart.

And that's the one thing is, as Republican as a campaign manager in Republican campaigns, one thing that like in these races in the last like six cycles, when we've looked at traditional Republican areas and they go, well, turnouts up or like early voting is way up.

And I'm like, okay, well, I can twist myself in not to try to explain why these people shifted to another party or a different vote, or maybe they just maybe the historic turnout in Republican areas means more Republicans have come out to vote.

And that has always been true.

But again, I think I it just in my gut, it just feels different than the pop that the polling are coming up.

Indiana school districts are also asking voters for more money in the November election, as the number of requests is a record.

Eric Weddle reports on why and on a group telling voters to vote no on the ballot referendum A record 38 Indiana school districts want voters to approve higher property tax rates.

Many districts say the reason is a 2025 state law that cuts homeowners taxes over the next several years.

Washington Township Superintendent Sean Taylor says if voters say no.

The district will try again in 2028.

The conservative group Americans for prosperity want voters to reject every referendum on the ballot.

AFP's Cody White says taxpayers need protection as Hoosiers are facing unprecedented, rising up costs all across the state.

we got to look out for them as well.

Some school districts say a failed referendum could lead to loss of bussing, school closures and teacher layoffs.

I mean, Niki, these are a lot of referendums on these ballots.

Are some bound to fail?

Absolutely.

in recent memory, we've seen kind of a half and half.

And I honestly think in this particular climate, if half of those passed, that would be a win for schools, especially because the legislature changed the wording on the ballot for explaining it.

And it's just misleading.

I mean, it uses the absolute maximum.

even if a school only wants to raise half of that, it also has no explanation of a lot of these are, extending an existing referendum so it doesn't change anything.

They're already paying that now, mind you, they might they would see a cut without it.

But but so I think that language is, is definitely going to cause a problem too.

I mean, you know, the problem could be very big for many districts who are stand to lose though a lot of money if if these referenda do not pass.

Yes.

Especially considering the clause where eligible charter schools will have a share of that revenue should the referendum pass.

So there's a lot of issues at play here.

I think what it comes down to, as far as success is concerned, is how effective the school districts are going to be to overcome some of that and tie in counter messaging, like from the AFP and the ads that are being run online with the taxman coming, your money and all of that.

So that does have the potential to sway people.

And and we're talking about affordability.

People are already concerned about how expensive things are.

So one more thing to it.

You know, if the if the messaging is not there from school districts, from educators helping to really push this message, then yeah, some of this is bound to fail.

I mean, we have seen this group, the Americans for prosperity, you know, actively saying, do not support these referendum.

and some, you know, state leaders as well behind that.

Where does that come from?

This was our idea is Republicans to do this.

So the protection for taxpayers to push back on the AFP, the the protection for taxpayers was put it to referendum in your community.

Make your school district come forward and say, this is what we need.

This is what we want to do.

This is what we need and this is what it costs.

Do you support paying for that or don't you?

That is taxpayer protection by definition.

They are consciously making a very specific decision to increase their own property taxes, to pay for a very specific use.

That to me is fiscal conservatism.

It is.

Otherwise you're just a deadbeat.

You just want stuff.

It's that fiscal conservatism.

Just say I want great schools.

Yeah.

Cool.

Well, we got to raise your taxes.

Nope.

That that isn't fiscal conservatism to me.

It is.

It is what?

The system that Mitch Daniels and legislature designed, which is the referendum system, which is to go in these communities and say, we need more money.

Do you support the school, be in the core of the core of your community or don't you?

Yeah, yeah.

But I also think too, it's also there's a lot of added pressure because you're looking at Senate Roll act one and that is what gutted.

It's gutting local government.

It's also really putting these schools in a tough position.

And so you also I think are going to have some legislative districts where it's going to be a tight race and if you've got voters who are motivated coming out for a school referendum vote, they also may not be voting for that legislature who voted for Senate enrolled act one.

So I think you're also seeing people are really engaged and they're really aware of it.

and I think the other part about Indiana that we always, we don't always think about is that when we get outside of the Indianapolis bubble and we think about what school districts mean to people and Jefferson County, what that school district means in Jennings County, you know, what those school districts mean to people.

They're big employers.

They're community pride.

they're a source of, they're educating people for the next generation.

They partner with Ivy tech.

They're doing amazing work.

And so that is also something that I think outside of Indianapolis, we don't always get.

And I that's going to be very interesting to me to see on Election Day, especially when we get out of out of the Indianapolis bubble, which ones do well and which ones don't because of that source of community pride in those in those institutions.

So they really do touch, you know, all parts of the state.

And they do.

And I just want to point out one thing that I really dislike about the AFP thing, which is they're not considering any of these on their own merits.

They are just a flat out vote against all of them across the board.

And I think that's pretty irresponsible.

Well, they probably had money to throw around at the end and they decided, let's just dump it here and see if that helps.

hopefully voters voted for him because I know a lot of communities have done a lot of work to get the vote out.

Yeah.

Well, also this week, a federal judge has temporarily halted parts of a U.S.

Department of Agriculture reorganize zation.

That would make Indianapolis a hub for the agency.

The ruling puts the move on hold while a lawsuit over the restructuring continues.

Clayton Baumgarth reports the agency's plan would move much of USDA's Washington area workforce to hubs around the country.

Indianapolis is slated to become one of five hubs for the department's food and nutrition administration.

It would also become the home of implementation and oversight for Snap, the federal food assistance Program.

Judge Vince Chhabria found the department is likely violating congressional spending restrictions by using appropriated money for office closures and employee relocations.

The ruling does not cancel the reorganization.

The spending restrictions currently run through December 11th, and the Congress could change them when it considers future agricultural funding.

So how do you think this reorganization should happen here in Indiana?

I think regardless of whether or not it happens, one of the core issues here is how the USDA moves forward effectively in a way that does not disrupt essential services.

So we're talking about not only Snap benefits, which is one of the main things that people will pay attention to, which is really important.

It helps support a lot of Americans who are in need of those services.

But you also have the protection of federal lands, forestry, things like that.

Also support of the agricultural community.

So while it could potentially be beneficial to have one of these hubs here in Indiana, I've heard, you know, people mentioned being able to connect with the universities and do research and having those resources close to us in our own backyard.

While there could be some benefit there, I think the issues as far as the concerns outweigh what those potential benefits could be.

They're in hot water right now.

Yeah.

Being sued by their employees.

That's a big issue.

I mean, we did hear when this was originally announced.

It did just kind of fascinate me, you know, that that that one of the reasons as well was because we're so close to the farmers here in Indiana.

So it just makes sense.

But really, we're talking about, you know, moving the agency that has long been in Washington, D.C., to different hubs.

Does that really make sense?

You know, as a financial cost?

I have to see the detail.

I mean, I'm sure it'd be honestly probably cheaper to run an agency in Indiana than DC.

But you also got to remember there are hundreds and to thousands of employees that are, you know, would have to transplant their lives or just find a new job.

And so that's also a consideration.

I mean, that's what the lawsuit hinges on, is that, you know, this money was already allocated and now we're using it to relocate and to, you know, move the agency around.

But Ebony brings up a good point.

You know, the Snap administration was is supposed to come to Indiana.

I thought that was an interesting part of it.

Yeah, I do too.

I mean, I look, I'm always a fan of, I mean, old school job creation bringing new jobs to our communities.

I mean, I'm always a fan of that.

I mean, I guess as long as, you know, a member of as long as a member of the Trump family, a Trump donor or Donald Trump himself isn't benefiting from this deal.

And somehow I think that, you know, hopefully that it could bring good things to Indiana.

But it just it's part and parcel of just not having a strategy.

Just throwing a, you know, dart on the, on the board and just saying, let's just move to Indiana.

Yeah, I think that's just wasteful spending.

I mean, it's real quick then, Mike.

I mean, so did it surprise you at all when this announcement happened initially?

No.

Well, no, because I think the original concept was to bring it to a place that is good at this and where it may and where makes sense, and bring efficiency and bring and bring cost savings.

So.

All right.

Well that is Indiana Week in review for this week.

Our panel has been Democrat Lara Beck.

Republican Mike O'Brien.

Ebony Chappel director of brand and community strategy, a free Press Indiana.

And Niki Kelly, editor in chief at Indiana Capital Chronicle.

You can find Indiana Weekend Reviews, podcast and episodes at WFYI.org/IWIR or on the PBS app.

I'm Jill Sheridan, managing editor at WFYI.

Join us next time because a lot can happen.

And in Indiana a week.

The views expressed are solely those of the panelists.

Indiana Week in Review is produced by Wfyi in association with Indiana Public Broadcasting stations.

Additional support is provided by ParrRichey.