VALPARAISO | Porter County Council members say they will vote next week on whether to stop contributing millions of dollars a year to the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority -- a move that would put extra money in taxpayers' pockets but would kill plans to expand the South Shore commuter railroad to Valparaiso.

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 hope I have four votes (to get Porter County out of the RDA)," Whitten said.

"Every time I turn around there's a new tax proposed. I think it's time to cut the cord all around. I'm sick of sending money to Lake County. We simply can't afford it anymore."

Whitten said it's ridiculous that in these tough economic times, when people are having trouble paying their bills, that government is pushing more taxes. Whitten said he would like to get out of the RDA and return that tax money to the people. He also plans to fight for Porter County to be excluded from the proposed four-county income tax.

Council member Laura Blaney also expressed dismay because the $3.5 million Porter County has been contributing to the RDA was supposed to fund rail expansion, and now state lawmakers are saying an extra tax is needed.

"It's just getting out of hand. ... It's time for the government to tighten their belt, too," Blaney said.

Blaney said she doesn't understand why government is trying to take more money from people when they're struggling to pay the taxes already in place. Blaney said the council, at the special meeting set for Wednesday, will talk about the RDA and will also tackle the issue of whether to allow taxpayers to pay their property taxes in an installment plan instead of all at once. She's hopeful an installment plan will be put into place.

Whitten, who voted against Porter County becoming involved in the RDA, said the RDA hasn't delivered what it promised and it's time to stop subsidizing that group.

"It's time to revolt," Whitten said.

"Come Wednesday, we're going to put it all on the table."