Amazon Tax Break Betrays Hood Voters on Critical Bonds

By Nate Criswell

Local governments love playing games with your money, and Hood County is no exception. Here we are, staring down two massive bond propositions on the November ballot—a $24 million jail expansion and another $125 million to fund the Master Thoroughfare Plan for desperately needed road improvements—and what does the Commissioners Court do? They tee up a property tax abatement for Amazon, potentially handing over a 75% break for up to 30 years. That's right: while they're asking voters to approve bonds that could hike our future debt burden, they're ready to let a trillion-dollar corporation skate on millions in taxes. How tone-deaf can you get? 

Even if they dial it back to 50% for 10 years, it's still a raw deal for taxpayers. Amazon's facility would generate property taxes that could help fund those very bonds, easing the burden on families already stretched thin by inflation and rising costs. Instead, the county is prioritizing corporate welfare over fiscal responsibility. We've seen this movie before—politicians promise jobs and growth, but the math never adds up for the little guy. Why ask us to shoulder more debt when you're waving goodbye to revenue that could keep our taxes lower? This would be a slap in the face to every hardworking Hood County resident who's tired of government picking winners and losers. Commissioner Jack Wilson put this item on the agenda.

This comes at a time when many locals are furious, vowing to vote down the bonds if the abatement goes through. "How can they ask us to pay for the bond, but give Amazon a property tax abatement?" one resident posted in the Hood County We The People 2.0 Facebook group, echoing a growing chorus of frustration. Facts back up the anger: the bonds total $149 million, with the jail and roads critical for safety and growth, but approving them means higher property taxes for years. Handing Amazon a break undermines that, fueling resentment and potentially dooming these essential projects. It's not just unfair—it's reckless, risking public safety and infrastructure because commissioners can't say no to Big Tech.

Now, let's talk resources. Amazon data centers are notorious water hogs, guzzling up to 450,000 gallons per day on average for cooling, according to industry reports. In a county like Hood, where droughts are a real threat and residents rely on limited groundwater, this could strain supplies, driving up water bills and forcing conservation measures on families while Amazon gets a pass. Imagine your well running dry or facing restrictions because a mega-corp is gobbling up resources for servers. It's not hypothetical—The People of Indiana are already complaining about Amazon depleting drinking water for its massive facility there. Emotionally, it's infuriating: why should we subsidize a company that's literally draining our community?

On power, it's even worse. These facilities devour electricity, with campuses pulling up to 2.25 gigawatts—enough to power half a state like Indiana, per recent filings. Hood County's grid isn't built for that; it could lead to blackouts, higher utility rates, and taxpayer-funded upgrades to transmission lines. Residents already pay through the nose for energy—add Amazon's demand, and families could see bills spike 10-20% as utilities pass on costs. This is a burden that hits low-income households hardest, all while the county gives away tax revenue that could practically pay for the entire bond! 

And for what? A handful of permanent jobs. Data centers like Amazon's typically employ just 50 full-time staff once construction wraps—mostly specialized technicians, not broad opportunities for locals. Sure, there might be temporary construction gigs, but those vanish, leaving us with a resource-sucking behemoth that contributes little to long-term employment. We've seen it nationwide: promises of economic booms fizzle into minimal payrolls, while taxpayers foot the bill for incentives. In Hood County, where good jobs are scarce, this abatement won't move the needle. This would be a lousy return on our investment.

As usual, Kevin Andrews is poised to cast the deciding vote, potentially tipping the scales toward this taxpayer rip-off. But the real culprit is Precinct 3 Commissioner Jack Wilson, who tone-deafly shoved this onto the agenda just before the bond vote. With public outcry mounting—folks swearing off bond support if Amazon gets the deal—it's time to hold them accountable. This isn't about hating business; it's about taking care of the taxpayers. Contact your commissioners, show up to the 9am meeting Tuesday morning, and tell the Commissioners and County Judge to vote no on this fool's errand. Hood County deserves better than more games with our money.