GRANGER -- Mostly foreign companies are bidding to lease the Indiana Toll Road, according to Forbes.com.
Citing a Spanish newspaper, the Web site reported that four companies from Spain and one each from France, Hong Kong and Italy, along with Australian companies, are bidding for the Indiana Toll Road lease. Boise, Idaho-based Washington Group is bidding in cooperation with Spain's Abertis Infaestructuras SA, according to the Web site.
The newspaper did not name its source.
Charles Schalliol, state budget director, declined to name the companies. But he said more than three and fewer than 10 companies are interested in the lease.
It doesn't matter where the money originates as long as the road is operated in a world-class manner, Schalliol said.
The Spanish newspaper reported that one of the toll road bidders is Spain's Cintra Concesiones de Infraestructuras de Transporte SA, which in its joint venture with an Australian firm, was awarded a 99-year lease on the Chicago Skyway bridge for $1.8 billion.
Schalliol said he expects the toll road bids to exceed $2 billion. The bidding process should be completed sometime in January -- enough time for state lawmakers to consider the appropriate legislation.
During its short session starting in January, the Indiana Legislature will debate the lease of the toll road and toll-funded private construction of the Interstate 69 extension between Indianapolis and Evansville.
Gov. Mitch Daniels wants lawmakers to give their blessing to both deals. Without the two deals, Indiana cannot build $2.8 billion in bridge and road projects, Daniels says.
Toll road maintenance and funding for local road projects troubles Elkhart County Commissioner Mike Yoder. The county uses a portion of the money raised through tolls to fund construction on county roads connected to the toll road. Leasing the toll road would eliminate this option, Yoder said.
Another problem for local officials: how money raised from the lease of the toll road will be spent.
"They're taking money generated here and spending it elsewhere" such as the I-69 project, Yoder said.
Seven counties in the toll-road corridor could form a coalition to protect local funding generated from the tolls, Yoder said.
"I'm assuming that Elkhart County will take leadership in that," he said. "We will do everything we can to make sure our interests are protected."
Local officials told state legislators about their funding concerns. But "the attitude is that toll-road lease is already a done deal," Yoder said.
State Rep. Jackie Walorski, R-Lakeville, doesn't think the toll-road lease will be approved in the 2006 session. "I'd be surprised if it would move that quickly," she said.
Before the session starts Jan. 4, Walorski plans to introduce a bill requiring an audit of toll road finances.
"We need to know exactly where the money has gone in the last 10 years," said the freshman representative.