INDIANAPOLIS — State Rep. Hal Slager, R-Schererville, is working on what he described as a "significant amendment" to his first-of-its-kind plan for coordinated transit-oriented development near stations along the current and future routes of the South Shore Line.
The three-term lawmaker is not saying specifically what revisions he's looking to make, only that he's heard a number of concerns from Region residents and he believes his proposed changes will clarify their uncertainties.
"The amendment does not fundamentally change anything, but fills a lot of cracks," Slager said.
Slager is scheduled to present House Bill 1144, along with his recommended adjustments, to the Senate Committee on Tax and Fiscal Policy on Tuesday.
It will be a busy day for the panel which also is due to debate the House Republican road funding plan that raises fuel taxes by 10 cents a gallon, increases vehicle registration fees, opens the door to statewide highway tolling and indirectly boosts the cigarette tax by $1 per pack.
The committee chairman, state Sen. Brandt Hershman, R-Buck Creek, said Friday that he's generally supportive of Slager's proposal and interested to see his revisions.
"I just need to delve into the details to determine whether there are any changes that need to be made," Hershman said. "I haven't reached a conclusion yet."
Altogether, four of the 14 committee members are co-sponsors of the transit development measure, including Hershman, state Sen. Ed Charbonneau, R-Valparaiso, and state Sen. Karen Tallian, D-Ogden Dunes.
Bipartisan support suggests legislation likely to advance
Such bipartisan backing suggests the legislation is likely to advance for a vote by the full Senate in early April.
"From what I can tell, I've got quite a bit of support in the Senate," Slager said.
The plan passed the 100-member House in February with only eight representatives voting no.
It authorizes the RDA to use increment financing to develop areas within a mile of train stations in an effort to maximize the economic benefits of double-tracking the South Shore Line between Gary and Michigan City and extending the commuter rail line from Hammond to Dyer.
Growth in local property and income tax revenues within each transit development district would be used to repay money borrowed by the RDA to speed construction of each TDD's property improvements, which still would be subject to municipal planning and zoning ordinances.
The RDA's planning consultant, Indianapolis-based Policy Analytics Inc., estimates the local tax revenue growth available for development spending in just Lake and Porter counties will total $456.2 million over a 20-year period.
Slager said ancillary development in Northwest Indiana spurred by TDD projects and rail improvements that better connect Region workers to high-paying Chicago jobs will generate more than $3 billion in the next two decades.
That opportunity seemingly does not appeal to the Gary City Council.
Last week, it approved a resolution condemning Slager's proposal on the grounds that it would take control over development out of the city's hands and negatively impact the city's finances.
Slager said those claims make "absolutely no sense," especially coming from Gary.
"For a community that probably doesn't have the bonding capacity to do a project on their own, this is a wonderful solution for them," Slager said. "How else are they going to do those kinds of developments? We're trying to offer help."
Similarly, Munster officials have questioned the impact of TDDs on school funding, which Slager said already is addressed in current law relating to tax increment financing districts — a point he intends to make more explicit.
"Hopefully, they will be a little more comfortable with the amended language," Slager said.