From the Post:
Porter County could opt out of the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority as early as next week. The County Council is scheduled to vote Wednesday on whether to withdraw from the group."I intend to get the hell out of this RDA," Councilman Dan Whitten said. "We've lost enough money on them and anyone who votes against (the withdrawal) should be run out of office."
From the Times:
Councilman Dan Whitten said it's bad enough that Porter County has been paying $3.5 million a year in income taxes to join with Lake County in the RDA to fund commuter rail service and other development.
But on Tuesday, state lawmakers proposed creating a new regional transportation district that could impose a new 0.25 percent income tax to residents in Porter, Lake, LaPorte and St. Joseph counties to fund bus and commuter rail service in those four counties.
I'd like to hear your thoughts? Earlier this week Senator Luke Kenley proposed forming a four county Regional Transportation Authority with ability to tax incomes in those four counties to raise additional dollars for building and managing the rail and bus systems. Although I'm a fan of regional efforts, and agree with Mayor Costas that Lake County will never solve these problems without our leadership ... I am not a fan of forced taxation from downstate to solve local challenges.
Personally I think it's sad that Porter County is the center of anti-everything ... anti-roads, anti-development, anti-growth in general. That's bad policy and won't solve anything unless you are racist and are wanting a "great white wall" at the county line. On the other hand forced taxes for a community that has not determined it needs, and there is little support frankly, a rail system extension is foolish too. You'll note previous posts suggesting that the South Shore should be charging what it actually costs to run the train, not losing money and looking to government to pick up the remainder for ever.
I'd like to see us keep our membership in the RDA, for five years, with a demand issued to the RDA that they accomplish something or go out of business. So far, we sure haven't seen a whole lot accomplished with our $3.5 million a year. The chairman should be changed to reflect Porter County's leadership, not a guy from LaPorte County. The RDA should take over the RBA and Gary Airport immediately and commit to working with the funds they have now, no more. Raise the train and bus rates to actual costs to operate, maintain, and upgrade. Look to sell the entire transportation system to a private operator in 10 years, because if you charge a real rate, someone will gladly buy the system.
