Post-Gazette
We remain steadfast in support of expanded commuter rail to Cedar Lake, Lowell and Valparaiso in Lake and Porter counties.
Such additional service is vital to the economic future of Northwest Indiana. The question is, why has it taken this long for this corner of the state to get serious -- as opposed to talking -- about expanded commuter rail?
With U.S. Rep. Peter Visclosky, D-Merrillville, sitting in the majority on the House Appropriations Committee, the timing is crucial for NWI to access $500 million in federal transportation money.
To qualify for the federal money, an equal amount must be raised locally. That was the subject of a hearing last week before the Indiana Senate's Tax and Fiscal Policy Committee.
Signifying the urgency of the situation was Visclosky's appearance before the committee -- a rarity for federal legislators.
Visclosky and area legislators are trying to set the stage for the 2008 legislative session that begins in January. The legislators again will seek authorization to impose some sort of local tax to raise the local share for expanded commuter rail. State Rep. Chester Dobis, D-Merrillville, last year proposed a wheel tax. The idea died.
Although we understand it likely will take a tax to raise the local match, we also know that tax would be part of the large, and potentially changing, tax picture in NWI.
The Lake County Council must decide by year's end whether to acquiesce to a state mandate to adopt an income tax or face frozen levies across the county. The income tax likely would be used for property tax relief.
Until the picture clears as to whether there will be an income tax to offset property taxes, it makes it difficult to consider other taxes. Yet, it would be just as wrong to put expanded commuter rail on the back burner.