For those of you that may not have been able to attend, last Tuesday, a meeting was held attracting approximately 300 Region residents, mostly from Porter County in the midst of ongoing litigation on the pros and cons of the RDA’s continued existence. (see index of Times articles here: RDA: at a Crossroads) Below is a summary of the arguments as presented by Dan Lowery, moderator, near the conclusion of the Symposium:
Proponents: (Morris, McDermott, Reshkin)
1. The RDA is the only way to obtain state and federal dollars for lakeshore restoration.
2. The RDA is the best way to leverage state and federal dollars, only regional projects qualify.
3. The RDA has the ability to handle regional projects no one government can accomplish alone.
4. The Region can’t wait for Indianapolis to help or accomplish our goals.
5. Transportation development will keep the best and brightest in Northwest Indiana.
6. The RDA has high caliber of leadership and stewardship of dollars.
7. The RDA will create jobs.
8. Public transit serves the need of the less fortunate which leads to higher employment throughout the Region.
9. Rising energy costs will lead to increased need for public transportation.
10. The RDA does not have taxing authority.
Opponents: (Harper, Rust)
1. There is no proof that jobs can be delivered.
2. The “rural character” of Porter County will be destroyed by development and regionalism.
3. By leveraging state and federal dollars we also indirectly increase taxes.
4. The RDA has not brought any benefit to southern Porter County.
5. The South Shore will never end up expanding in Porter County.
6. We can’t tax and spend our way to prosperity, no matter whose tax money we use.
7. There’s not enough money in the RDA to do what they promise.
8. RDA/RBA/RTA = RAISING TAXES.
9. Once you have a tax, it only goes up.
10. Taxes drive people and businesses away.
11. The RDA has not spent money wisely, e.g. marketing, and have not been forthcoming on requested reports.
12. Rural Porter County will not be able to take advantage of public transportation as proposed.
13. To improve the economy you must build the business sector. The only way this can be accomplished is through lower taxes.
14. The world would end without the RDA?
In my opinion, the argument was imbalanced. Opponents seem to rely primarily (or exclusively) on anti-tax arguments. What I find interesting is that there is nothing to suggest that Porter County will eliminate the 0.25% CEDIT if, by chance, it happens to win in litigation and is allowed to withdraw from the RDA. Harper says so himself.
As I have mentioned previously, I do not believe that a 0.25% Tax is the real underlying cause for the extremely emotional response that some in Porter County have against the RDA. I think it is more about maintaining the status quo (anti-development) and “protecting” (i.e. isolating) ourselves from the rest of the Region, in terms of economics as well as demographics.
I am hoping that this post gets people riled on both sides of the argument. I am once again looking forward to open, honest debate of the issues surrounding this controversial topic. Feel free to engage any of the above points, and as well list some of your own that the Symposium may have failed to raise.
