Most people like paying taxes.
Even though they generally don't come out and say it in those words, people are happy not to have to police their own streets, put out their own house fires, truck their own garbage to a landfill or fill their own potholes.
That kind of service costs money, and that money is raised through taxes.
What people do not like is paying taxes to put politicians' relatives on payrolls, to put them behind the wheel of a car many cannot themselves afford or watch as connected contractors and consultants make big money for doing little or nothing in return.
In other words, they want to see results. Bang for their buck.
Keep that in mind as the Porter County Council votes tonight on whether to withdraw from the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.
For the past four years, Porter County has annually been kicking in $3.5 million to the RDA, and last fall several council candidates who ran on an anti-RDA platform won a majority on the seven-member body.
Last week's announcement of a proposed additional 0.25 percent income tax to fund further RDA participation appears to have been the straw that broke the proverbial camel's back.
Whether Porter County can actually withdrawn from the RDA is up in the air. Councilwoman Karen Conover, R-Valparaiso, said the county is legally obligated to remain a part of the RDA through 2015, but whatever decision is made tonight will probably end up as an economic stimulus for lawyers.
But even if the decision is rendered symbolic, it is symbolic of a growing disenchantment with throwing money at a government body that is not showing signs of doing anything to enhance the quality of life in either Lake or Porter counties.
Regional Bus Authority President Dennis Rittenmeyer bailed out as of June 1, saying either the agency will be funded by unpopular taxes or it will cease to exist at the end of the year.
Even Porter County Council President Bob Poparad, D-Burns Harbor, who is on the fence on tonight's vote, said he is losing confidence in the RDA.
"I'm disappointed at the lack of results at the Gary airport, which was the foundation of my support for the RDA," he said.
Does this remind anyone else of that scene in the movie "Ghostbusters" where three recently fired academics discuss being desperate enough to seek work in the private sector?
"Personally, I liked the university," said Dan Aykroyd's character, Dr. Ray Stantz. "They gave us money and facilities, and we didn't have to produce anything. You don't know what it's like out there. I've worked in the private sector. They expect results."
Isn't it about time we started expecting results in the public sector as well?
The opinions are solely those of the writer. He can be reached at markk@nwitimes.com or (219) 933-4170.
