By John Byrne, Post-Tribune staff writer
INDIANAPOLIS -- A proposed tax on cars in Lake and Porter counties won't become law this year, according to the measure's chief backer.
State Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, said he will not push the tax in the waning days of the spring legislative session.
The wheel tax would have been used to help fund the $1 billion extension of the South Shore rail line south into Cedar Lake and east into Valparaiso.
According to state estimates, a tax of $50 on cars and $80 on heavy trucks in Lake and Porter counties would have raised $28.3 million per year.
U.S. Rep. Pete Visclosky urged state lawmakers to adopt the tax. With the local matching funds from the wheel tax in place, the rail project would have the inside track on federal transportation matching funds, Visclosky said.
But a recent report showing property tax bills could go up more than expected around the state this year helped convince Dobis to drop the wheel tax for the time being.
Visclosky spokesman Justin Kitsch said the congressman hopes legislators will take up the proposal again sooner rather than later. "Every day we don't have the local match is a day we can't move this plan into serious contention for federal money," Kitsch said.
Many other Northwest Indiana lawmakers had reservations about the wheel tax.
Sen. Earline Rogers, D-Gary, questioned plans to give the Regional Development Authority the power to levy the tax.
And Sen. Victor Heinold, R-Valparaiso, said a major revenue bill needs greater scrutiny than a few meetings among lawmakers at the end of the session could provide.
"I would seriously consider (voting for the wheel tax)," Heinold said. "But there isn't a lot of time for public input on such a major change."
In the end, Dobis decided to drop the plan, but promised to bring it up again when the General Assembly convenes in 2008. "This South Shore expansion would be a huge benefit to the region, and if this tax is what we need to get it going, I will support it," Dobis said.