Agricultural topics like property taxes, water use and renewable energy have stood out as key issues heading into the Indiana gubernatorial election this November.

Candidates who shared their views with Indiana Prairie Farmer include Republican Mike Braun, Democrat Jennifer McCormick and Libertarian Donald Rainwater.

What are some potential solutions to bring property tax relief to Indiana farmers? 

Braun: I am the only gubernatorial candidate who would provide a 3% cap on any future property tax increases. In 2023 and 2024, Hoosier farmers have faced double-digit property tax increases. Under the Braun plan, those increases would have been spread out over several years.

The state should also look seriously at providing relief through commonsense amendments to the farmland base rate.

McCormick: My commonsense property tax relief plan provides $600 million in annual tax relief without a shift toward farmers or a cut in local services. The plan would use state dollars to offer local property tax relief. This ensures that no local payers are overburdened, and local services are protected. It also provides directed relief to our seniors and veterans.

Rainwater: I will advocate for a true cap on all residential and privately owned agricultural property taxes. This cap would limit property taxes to 1% of the purchase price of the property or the assessed value, whichever is lower. This would sunset after you paid 1% for seven years, allowing homeowners and family farmers stability and predictability. Property acquired through inheritance would not be subject to property tax. Only property acquired by a real estate sale transaction.

Related:Lt. governor candidates share plans for Indiana ag

There currently is no legislation regulating water quantity. How will you protect water quantity?

Braun: I am encouraged by the active conversations happening between homeowners, farmers, utilities, industrial water consumers and conservation groups. I look forward to joining these conversations as governor to ensure that any statewide solution is measured and durable.

McCormick: Our administration will develop a statewide water management plan targeting regional needs and inclusive of local voice. The LEAP [Limitless Exploration Advanced Pace] district represents a significant opportunity for Indiana’s economic growth, but it’s crucial that this growth is balanced, sustainable, and includes the voices of those directly impacted by its development and growth. Additionally, transparency and accountability are critical. The research and data coming into the project needs to be unbiased, analyzed and acted upon in a responsible manner.

Rainwater: The first step in protecting water quantity is to work with the Department of Natural Resources to establish a sustainable water availability plan to ensure that Indiana’s water resources will continue to exceed demand in perpetuity.

The LEAP project aims to threaten water availability. Will you support more projects like this one? How will you ensure future projects like this are more transparent? How can the current LEAP controversy be resolved?

Braun: As governor, I would direct the Indiana Economic Development Corporation to put greater emphasis on supporting our homegrown businesses in a sustainable way that leads to more investment in our communities and increases wage growth for Hoosiers. Ambitious investments should not be cut out of the equation, but instead should be subject to closer scrutiny that ensures a return on our taxpayers’ investment.

McCormick: A McCormick-Goodin administration will prioritize transparency in government and at IEDC, immediately pausing the LEAP project to produce a report on the LEAP costs to date and anticipated returns. We will hold IEDC accountable for transparency in operations, such as the amount of tax avoidance of their investments, inclusivity of local input and honesty regarding investment outcomes. We will also broaden the definition of local participation in incentives, allowing local officials to determine priorities.

A McCormick-Goodin administration will create and implement an overall water management plan, including local control of water resources.

Rainwater: I do not support projects such as LEAP. These types of projects are being fast-tracked without proper planning and transparency. The government’s role in these projects should be oversight and protection of individual rights, not a partner in development. The solution to the current controversy is for the IEDC to step back and allow local government and the private sector to manage the project while the state government provides oversight to protect the rights of citizens.

What actions will you take to ensure broadband is brought to all underserved rural communities in the state?

Braun: While many Hoosiers without connectivity live in rural communities far from broadband infrastructure, others live right outside city or town limits. However, due to quirky regulations and overstated coverage claims by some internet service providers, these Hoosiers end up slipping through the cracks. As governor, I would direct the Indiana Broadband Office to block broadband developers from receiving state broadband dollars if they repeatedly make false coverage claims.

 I would also work with the General Assembly to develop a program that supports innovative broadband delivery models for our most rural communities.

McCormick: As governor, I will prioritize investments in transportation, fast and reliable broadband connectivity, and renewable energy infrastructure.

Part of this is partnering with the federal government. The bipartisan infrastructure bill signed into law by the Biden administration has provided $1.1 billion in broadband funding to Indiana, including $868.1 million to the Broadband Equity, Access and Deployment Program to provide high-speed internet to every Hoosier.

Rainwater: We should simply reduce government intervention in the free market. Unfortunately, our state government has already begun taking a heavy-handed approach to solving this problem. As Governor, I would review and audit the current activities and determine how to ensure everyone who needs broadband has access to the most cost-effective, free market solutions available.

How will you protect rural communities from extensive renewable energy development while also upholding property rights?

Braun: Enrolling acreage into wind and solar contracts can be an opportunity for famers to diversify their income and pass the farm on to future generations. As state and local governments contend with the Indiana State Department of Agriculture’s Inventory of Lost Farmland, I will be a reliable voice in support of landowner rights and local governance.

McCormick: Indiana produces roughly 25% of its energy domestically. We need to invest in distributed renewable energy generation. It also can earn significant returns for the landowners. Local input is critical. We restrict land uses when they have negative impacts on nearby landowners, but those restrictions should be narrowly tailored to preserve Hoosiers’ freedom to work or sell their land as they see fit.

Rainwater: We must understand the impact on property rights of others that renewable energy development can cause. Innovation has often been allowed to proceed without a thorough understanding or concern for the long-term impact on the natural resources, environment and people. State government must first and foremost safeguard all citizens’ personal and property rights.

The ISDA Inventory of Lost Farmland reported over 350,000 acres of farmland have been lost between 2010 and 2022. What measures will you take to preserve farmland in the state?

Braun: I would direct ISDA to regularly update the inventory and make formal recommendations for improving upon its data collection and reporting. I would also work with the General Assembly to address some of the underlying causes of farmland loss. We owe it to our farmers to ensure that farming continues to be profitable enough to pay the bills and support their families.

McCormick: Twenty years ago, Indiana used to do an annual look at farmland. A McCormick-Goodin administration will return to yearly monitoring of farmland transition to better understand the scope and causes of farmland loss.

Rainwater: We must reduce the regulatory burden that has made family farmers a dying breed in Indiana. We must deregulate industrial hemp. We must provide legislative and regulatory safeguards that ensure every farmer has the same opportunity to succeed. The government should protect the family farmers’ ability to produce, not interfere with it.

How will you continue supporting Clean Water Indiana and conservation funding?

Braun: As your U.S. senator, I passed the Growing Climate Solutions Act into law. My bill helps family farmers get paid for on-farm conservation practices through private-sector carbon offset markets. We should look at similar innovative funding mechanisms as a backbone for our conservation funding.

McCormick: A McCormick-Goodin administration would seek to increase the amount of dedicated revenues toward conservation. Additionally, the McCormick-Goodin administration will start a pathway to legalized adult use of cannabis that would generate $177 million in annual tax revenues when fully realized. Dedicating some portion to Clean Water Indiana and other conservation programs, in addition to the cigarette tax revenue and state general funds, would be a more sustainable model for Clean Water Indiana and other programs.

Rainwater: I will work with the Indiana General Assembly to ensure that the Clean Water Indiana program remains stable during my administration.