LAPORTE

City of LaPorte in favor of new local income tax

The LaPorte City Council is supporting an income tax to help restore a budget depleted by statewide property tax reform.

By a 5-2 vote, a resolution in favor of a .50-percent countywide option income tax was adopted Monday night.

Without a new tax, the city is looking at a projected budget shortfall of $1.8 million by the end of 2010.

"Services will be cut," Mayor Kathy Chroback said. She fears layoffs in police and fire along with other measures such as no snow plowing on weekends if there's not another source of revenue to make up for losses in property tax dollars.

Chroback said she will be armed with the resolution when city officials argue the case Monday before the LaPorte County Council, which must OK the tax for it to be imposed.

Instead of a tax, opponents feel the city should first take a hard look at eliminating take home vehicles, switching to a less expensive health insurance provider and reductions in spending areas like parks.

City Councilman Goot Logwood is afraid a tax would leave less disposable income for businesses and further weaken the economy.

LAPORTE

NIPSCO wire stolen from LaPorte trucks

About 400 feet of copper wire was stolen from NIPSCO's maintenance facility in LaPorte.

According to police, a NIPSCO employee made the discovery about 7:30 a.m. on Monday at the facility at 1501 W. Ind. 2.

Police said it appears a security fence was scaled to reach the wire inside about a half dozen NIPSCO maintenance trucks.

The trucks were last used on Nov. 26 and were sitting idle during the Thanksgiving holiday.

The wire combined contained a non-scrap value of more than $500.

LAPORTE

Brothers hurt in wreck after sliding along ice

A 16-year old driver from LaPorte and his younger brother were injured in a weather-related crash Monday afternoon in Coolspring Township.

According to the LaPorte County Sheriff's Department, Jason Smith. 16. was traveling down a hill on County Road 200 North when he slid off the snow and iced covered pavement about 3:30 p.m. near Wozniak Road. The 1989 Acura he was driving slammed into a tree.

Steven Smith, 14, was trapped inside the wreckage until firefighters forced open the passenger side door, authorities said.

Jason Smith of 1644 N. Country Club Drive complained of pain to his chest while his brother sustained a cut to his eye.