INDIANAPOLIS — A plan to give the Northwest Indiana Regional Bus Authority local casino tax revenue died at the Indiana General Assembly, but region lawmakers may tack on a funding source to another bill.
State Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, has prepared language that would send the RBA money from a $300-a-year tax credit for low-income residents. Lake County officials estimate that a fund with the redirected money would raise at least $9 million. Lake County Commissioner Roosevelt Allen, D-Gary, said the funds still would benefit the same demographic of people by providing public transportation.
Rogers said she believes a local solution is the better way to go, but she prepared the language in the event there was consensus to add it to a bill.
“I do have some concerns, in fact I tried to get some data to find out how many people were affected,” Rogers said. “You get a property tax credit if you got an income $18,000 and below and I know that in many instances those are senior citizens.”
State Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond, said she would work with Rogers to find funding for the RBA. Lawson’s bill was sent to the House Ways and Means Committee but was never scheduled for a hearing. If the RBA doesn’t find a long-term funding source, money to operate the buses runs out by the end of June.
“Well it’s a real concern of mine, a major concern of mine,” Lawson said. “My constituents need transportation. They have to get to work. They have to get to school. They have to get to church. They have to get to a doctor’s office, pharmacy, grocery. It’s not a luxury. It’s a necessity.”