By Eric Bradner, Evansville Courier & Press
INDIANAPOLIS - Funding for a Downtown Evansville arena received a major boost Wednesday when Gov. Mitch Daniels signed into law a bill that allows the city to use local tax revenue to pay for the arena.
The legislation does not increase any taxes, but it does offer more freedom to decide how to use current tax revenue.
Instead of allowing it to expire this year, Vanderburgh County will get to keep a 1 percent innkeepers tax for five more years and use it for the arena under the new law.
Additionally, Vanderburgh County can use its food and beverage tax revenue to help pay for the arena, too.
Mayor Jonathan Weinzapfel cheered the governor's signing of a bill he and Southwestern Indiana lawmakers strongly supported.
"This allows us to put together a financing plan for the new arena without raising property taxes," Weinzapfel said.
"It will also allow us to put hundreds of people to work in the near future when we begin construction."
Late in the General Assembly's session, the Evansville tax legislation was in jeopardy. Lawmakers had attached controversial legislation to it that would help the struggling board that runs Indianapolis' professional sports stadiums out of its $47 million deficit.
However, legislators amended the Evansville legislation, as well as similar legislation for several other cities and towns, into another bill that passed in the session's final hours.
Wednesday was the final day for Daniels to sign bills that passed the General Assembly on April 29, the day it adjourned.
One bill Daniels signed would allow Indiana residents hoping to renew their driver's licenses to visit a mailbox or computer instead of an Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles branch office.
Daniels signed a bill Wednesday that will allow the BMV to offer license renewals online or by mail. Residents will be able to use the new services if they have had no name or address changes and meet other qualifications.
The BMV hopes to start working soon on the new options, but officials are not sure when online renewals might be available.
License renewals are the most requested online service currently not available through the BMV's Web site.
Supporters of the bill say Indiana will join 25 other states in providing more convenient options.
After vetoing two bills Tuesday, Daniels also issued his third veto Wednesday.
Daniels rejected a bill that would have made St. Joseph Superior Court judges popularly elected for the first time since 1973.
Daniels said the current method of appointing judges has worked for 35 years and doesn't need to be repaired.
Lake County is the only other Indiana county where judges are appointed rather than elected.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.