I oppose a local option income tax for Lake County

Proponents of a Lake County income tax have always used as their argument that Lake County is the only county without an income tax.

It is seldom mentioned that we are also one of two counties that have permitted voter-unapproved additions to the tax caps that exceed the Indiana property tax caps. The Times polled six area residents, and five of the six were against any income tax and one was unsure.

I generally oppose any income tax because of the above add-ons to real estate taxes, and I would only support a 0.3 percent increase if it was deemed truly necessary. Once the tax is enacted, it would be a violation of the equal protection clause of the Constitution for any law in the state to further enforce a levy freeze. Other counties have income tax rates below 1 percent, and we should freely be allowed that choice.

Countywide bus service does not work, and the South Shore extension should be put to a referendum.

- Michael York, Munster