By John Byrne, Post-Tribune staff writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- The northern Indiana regional transportation district took an important step toward becoming law Wednesday, but the multi-county authority still has a long way to go before it reaches the governor's desk.
The Senate adopted the package by a 43-7 vote Wednesday afternoon, with all Northwest Indiana's senators voting in favor of it.
The proposal includes a county-by-county referendum, to be held in May 2010 in Lake, Porter, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties.
If a majority of voters in at least two of the four counties support the idea of membership, the transportation district would be created only in those counties that voted for it.
The board, composed of county council members and commissioners from each participating county, would have the power to levy an income tax up to 0.25 percent to pay for big ticket transit projects like regional bus service and the South Shore rail extension.
Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, testified the authority is a rare chance to support a true economic development package.
"The region, because of its proximity to Chicago, is an area we think can be developed more," Rogers said.
If all four counties join and adopt the full 0.25 percent income tax, the board would have about $52 million per year for transit projects, according to state estimates.
Lake County residents would pay $22 million annually, Porter $12 million, LaPorte $5 million and St. Joseph $15 million.
But local legislators have hinted the package could undergo significant changes before the end of the session.