Car tax draws mixed reviews

Font Size:

BY PATRICK GUINANE
pguinane@nwitimes.com
317.637.9078 | Monday, April 09, 2007 | (21 comment(s))

INDIANAPOLIS | Northwest Indiana legislators have high hopes for extending South Shore service to Lowell and Valparaiso, but some fear a proposed car tax teeters too close to a political third rail.

"That is one of the most hated taxes -- our plates on our vehicles, " said state Rep. Linda Lawson, D-Hammond. "The people in my community, my neighborhoods, they would be just outraged if we gave them another tax."

State Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, acknowledged that he was initiating an uphill battle last week by suggesting a so-called wheel tax of up to $50 per vehicle in Lake and Porter counties.

The surcharge, which would come on top of existing annual license plate renewal fees, would generate more than $20 million a year to cover half the $1 billion cost of bringing commuter rail to Cedar Lake, Dyer, Highland, Hobart, Griffith, Merrillville, Lowell, St. John and Valparaiso. The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority could impose the tax in both counties -- but only after securing $500 million in federal funds for the so-called West Lake Corridor expansion of the South Shore.

Dobis presented the plan to a Senate fiscal committee Tuesday, but it was not adopted. And time is running short for the concept to catch on in this legislative session, which is scheduled to end April 29.

"Whether it happens or not, my objective was to plant the seed," Dobis said.

"A local (funding) match has got to be found in order for this (rail project) to go forward." Several region legislators applauded their colleague's political courage, and RDA Chairman John Clark credited Dobis for an effort to "put some pants" on the South Shore plan.

"I give him all the credit in the world," said Clark, an adviser to Gov. Mitch Daniels. "It's never easy for a politician to talk about raising revenues."

But the wheel tax is perhaps one of the "most onerous" funding options, said state Rep. Charlie Brown, D-Gary.

"I don't think it would be well received by my constituents," Brown said.

Other lawmakers acknowledged that car owners in northern cities already served by the South Shore could have a tough time stomaching any new tax to benefit their southern neighbors.

Still, Lawson says she's glad transportation talks have shifted to commuter rail and away from the proposed Illiana Expressway, which she considers a conduit for suburban sprawl that could weaken Hammond and other northern cities.

The governor, among others, had suggested that a lease payment for a privately operated Illiana tollway might help subsidize South Shore expansion, but that avenue looks like a dead end with privatization-wary Democrats controlling half the Legislature.

"I support the rail line," said state Rep. Duane Cheney, D-Portage. "If there is no other way to do it, I would certainly consider raising taxes."

Back to story 21 comment(s)

Please note: Comments from readers will be screened and may not be posted immediately. If you don't see your comment perhaps:

It wasn't clear, concise or focused on the topic in the story.
It was a personal attack, vulgar, explicit or degrading, used actual or implied profanity or contained potentially libelous statements.
It accused someone of being guilty of a crime.
It promoted violence or illegal acts.
It contained telephone numbers or street addresses, or e-mail addresses and links to Web sites other than nwi.com or government agencies.

In no way do these comments represent the views of The Times or Lee Enterprises.

Passionate views, pointed criticism and critical thinking are welcome. Name-calling, crude and profane language and personal abuse are not welcome.

Reader comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined. They may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.

If you feel a posted comment has violated these guidelines, please email our New Media team the commenter's name, the comment and a link to the article.

For more information please read our Terms of Service.

R.D. wrote on Apr 12, 2007 1:41 PM:

" Let Chicago pay for it only the people who work in Chicago need it Maybe the people who want the South Shore should move back to Illinois "

North Hammond HomeOwner wrote on Apr 12, 2007 12:41 PM:

" Why can't they take some of the 3.1 Billion that is coming from the refinery expansion? There are so many forms of income coming into the region, why tax the remaining Lake County residents who are still here? There have been well over 3,000 families that have left Hammond in the last 5 years. Almost feels like someone/something is trying to get everyone to abandon Whiting, Robertsdale, and North Hammond. As a single homeowner, with one income, it is a frightening prospect to wonder if I will be able to pay my mortgage, my carpayment and the LAKE COUNTY PROPERTY TAXES, in 5 years; the way the increases in taxes and the additional taxes are coming, to me, are an indicator, that it is not likely! "

Kathy Jarzuski wrote on Apr 12, 2007 10:31 AM:

" Charge for parking at the station like Metra does! "

DC wrote on Apr 12, 2007 9:13 AM:

" I am a Democrat and I say Chet Dobis is out of his mind and should resign. "

Charles wrote on Apr 11, 2007 11:34 PM:

" Just raise taxes on cigarettes. I do not smoke. Who care's what smokers think. They are addicts so they can afford to pay $25 a carton. "

J wrote on Apr 11, 2007 1:34 PM:

" Hey Everyone. If you want to knwo another good place they should look for the money is all of the additional revenue they collect year after year that never get's carried ofrwrd on the budget. Look into it (CAFR)all you have to do is tyope those letters in your search engine and the report will come up. Click on Indiana to find that they have 11 billion dollars in surplus revenue that never get's accounted for. It's time we all take a stand. "

Bel wrote on Apr 11, 2007 1:00 PM:

" And they wonder why people register there cars and vehicles in other states. "

You got to be kidding!!! wrote on Apr 10, 2007 6:42 PM:

" You know we the people are taxed to death, from the irs to the grocery store and everything in between. Does this ever end? What�s next, are these politicians going to take our paycheck and give us what they feel we could live on, eat, pay mortgages, property taxes, rent, and educate our kids. This should be up to the people to vote not these politicians who work for us. We have the final decision not them, and nobody asked me for my vote. "

Dan wrote on Apr 9, 2007 10:39 PM:

" Another tax that's what everybody loves to hear. Hey Chet, just when will it end. You need to look at all the waste of money you politicians have created in Lake County before talking about a new tax. "

Wheel Tax = regressive tax wrote on Apr 9, 2007 10:07 PM:

" Hard to believe Dobis thinks that a "regressive tax" like a wheel tax, (poll tax, head tax, etc.) is the right answer for NWI. At $50 a vehicle, the effective tax rate (tax divided by available income) on those in North county will dwarf the effective rate on households in South county. I suspect another motive from Dobis et al. Kind of like a feint to sacrifice idea 1 (the Wheel tax) and come back with the left hook, an income tax for Lake county. Our message must be clear and succinct; NO NEW TAXES! Clean up the current property tax and corruption messes first. "

Hype wrote on Apr 9, 2007 10:05 PM:

" I've been part of Fortune 500 firms at the C level. You can build all the rail lines you want and they still won't come to NWI. With the pay to play politics and an uncertain property tax base it's just not worth the risk to them. Therefore all the "hype" of growth for NWI is just that - hype. Did they build rail lines to get the Honda plant in Greensberg? Did they build a regional Airport? Did they need a regional bus system to get Honda? NO. They are building roads and providing training dollars. "

Disgusted with taxes wrote on Apr 9, 2007 10:05 PM:

" State Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, and Rep. Duane Cheney, D-Portage are as pathetic as this tax is by suggesting a so-called wheel tax of up to $50 per vehicle in Lake and Porter counties. The Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority should be looking for private investors or selling bonds or using transportation and lottery receipts. Why are they dropping this on just the two counties when every county should be involved, these politicians really need a lesson on the middle class income. "

No way... wrote on Apr 9, 2007 9:52 PM:

" What happened to the toll money that what transportation taxes is all about and use some of the proceeds from the lottery, about 10 percent from each every years should cover it. "It's always easy for a politician to talk about raising revenues." And if Rep. Duane Cheney, D-Portage. "If there is no other way to do it only if I had a brain, I would certainly consider raising taxes lets cut their salaries." "

Wrong!!!!!!!!!!!!!! wrote on Apr 9, 2007 6:18 PM:

" This TAX would be totally unfair and wrong! Let's tax the ones who live in these counties that don't own a car or vehicle. Now that would be fair!! "

G Davis wrote on Apr 9, 2007 6:03 PM:

" I say no to a new tax, let the government pay for it like the amtrack if it's that important, and for these bozo's it's time to get these people out of office, you can't trust these phonies as far as they can stick their hand in your pocket! "

Economic Reality wrote on Apr 9, 2007 11:45 AM:

" If the idea of having a train to haul passengers was a great way to make a profit, I'm sure the companies that have a rail line in Lowell and Valparaiso would pursue it! They would not spend tens of thousands of dollars to study it (another favorite way to spend taxpayer money), but have an actuary run the costs. "

huh? wrote on Apr 9, 2007 9:36 AM:

" Mixed reviews? Who are they asking? 98% of the people, who read the times, wrote in or blogged oppose the new tax idea. I would call it more like a majority are against it. "

time is up wrote on Apr 9, 2007 8:42 AM:

" Courge? Raising or adding a new tax is not courage! Cooperating with and helping the federal prosecutor to clean out the thieving bureaucrats and officials would be courage. Demanding accountablility of your fellow spend-thrifts would be courage. Every day we read about another politically-connected scam. Millions, upon millions, upon millions of dollars have been stolen, squandered and scammed. Over a half million $$ by one crook in E.C. revealed on Sunday, with 6,000 additional properties to be investigated for tax fraud - this will amount to many millions. This is on top of tens of millions revealed over the past week! To our north-county neighborhood: most of the fraud is your fault. Your politicians. Your elections are bringing down the entire county. You would not support a rail system that you percieve would only benefit the south county, we are told. Well, neighbor, you had no problem accepting millions of tax dollars over many decades, in support of the South Shore. Lets not go into the hundreds of millions squandered on your cities over the decades with nothing to show but corruption and political decay. "

kevin weiler wrote on Apr 9, 2007 8:02 AM:

" no more taxes for anything "

Uh Mixed Reviews? wrote on Apr 9, 2007 4:53 AM:

" The times has titled this, "Car Tax Draws Mixed Reviews". Has any non-politician reviewed this favorably? The title should be, "Car Tax Renews Hatred for Overpaid Politicians Frivolously Spending Tax Payer Money." Or maybe, "Dobis Commits Political Suicide." "

No Credit is due Mr. Dobis wrote on Apr 9, 2007 1:29 AM:

" Sorry Mr. Clark, no credit is due Mr. Dobis. Given that Mr. Dobis had no opposition in the last general election I'm sure he feels entirely comfortable proposing anything he wants. No electoral opposition means no dissenting voice for taxpayers. These forums are great outlets for stirring the pot but what we need is a "boil over" of letters and emails to tell them NO more! www.in.gov/legislative/homepages/R13/" "

Back to story 21 comment(s)

Post a comment Once your comments are approved, they will appear here.

Marketplace

Sections

Services

Other Publications

Search