Lawmakers Hear From Constituents During Forum
February 13, 2017 at 8:11 p.m.
On Saturday, state and local lawmakers heard an earful from constituents over the ongoing demand for improved services and an equally strong desire to provide those without raising taxes.
The latest incarnation of that came to roost at Creighton’s Crazy Egg Cafe, where the Indiana Farm Bureau sponsored a legislative update on proposals in the General Assembly, which is in the midst of a long budget session in Indianapolis.
Lawmakers heard a list of concerns at the cafe. Representatives from agencies such as Bowen Center, KABS and Cardinal Services all voiced a need for more funding for certain programs and services.
State lawmakers also face pressure to expand prekindergarten education pilot programs across the state.
But the state’s effort to establish a long-term funding solution for road maintenance took center stage and exemplified the legislative quandary.
While the session is still somewhat early, the tentative plan is to raise fuel taxes by a dime, tie the tax rates to inflation, increase vehicle fees, including $150 for all electric cars and study establishing toll fees on Interstates 70 and 65.
Lawmakers believe they need to come up with at least $900 million in new revenue to support the road plan.
Still, it’s a tough sell for Republicans who control both chambers and the governor’s office. Among those participating were Republican State Reps. Dave Wolkins, Dist. 18; Curt Nisly, Dist. 22; and State Sens. Randy Head, Dist. 18, and Blake Doriot, Dist. 12.
A handful of people spoke against the funding plan.
Jay Haughee, Leesburg, said he came to put a face on the impact they are considering with regard to road funding.
He said he does almost all of his driving in the state and estimated that he could end up paying about $3,000 in new taxes.
“Yes, we need roads, but we need to find an equitable way rather than beating on the people that are already paying their fair share,” Haughee said.
The sentiment for the need to increase revenues seems to be apparent among some lawmakers and constituents.
Wolkins said state lawmakers 20 years ago lacked the political guts to raise the gas tax sufficiently.
“I think we’re all to the point where we need to fix it rather than kick it down the road,” Wolkins said.
Nisly said he likes the idea of dedicating all of the gas tax for road projects. Yet, he said he still prefers not to raise taxes to cover the costs.
The outlook among some about paying more taxes to see road improvements appears to exist.
Wolkins said more than 60 percent of respondents to a survey in his district support the notion of raising taxes, but only if it goes toward roads.
A show of hands on a similar question was posed and a clear majority of those in the room indicated support for some tax increase if it was dedicated to roads.
Doriot, a first-year lawmaker from Elkhart County, pointed out that most bridges are expected to last for about 70 years, but about 70 percent of the state’s bridges are 50 years old.
“The piper’s coming and we’ve got to pay him,” Doriot said. “We’re going to do our best to keep it as reasonable as we can.”
“We’ve got to look at this hard and we’re going to come up with some answers that some of you are not going to like,” Doriot said.
Head said he’s still looking for input. It boils down to whether people are willing to pay more for better roads.
He said he thinks much could still change.
“All of this is a work in progress,” Head said. “I’m going to guess the price tag is going to go down.”
County Commissioner Ron Truex, one of several county level officials who attended the meeting, compared the state’s situation to Kosciusko County’s circumstances two years ago when officials decided to raise the wheel tax despite strong opposition from constituents. The result has seen improvements to a large number of county roads.
County councilman Bob Sanders, though, pointed out that revenues still are not enough to properly address needed repairs.
Truex added that the same pressures they see on the local level exist at the state level.
“We do appreciate the position you guys are in, however ... when we get through the budget process in the county, there are many worthy organizations that count on public money to operate.”
When the state cuts funds, those groups often turn to the county for support, Truex said.
At the same time, the county struggles with more mandates from the state, which the county has to pay for.
The circumstances, he said, are “heartbreaking.”
On Saturday, state and local lawmakers heard an earful from constituents over the ongoing demand for improved services and an equally strong desire to provide those without raising taxes.
The latest incarnation of that came to roost at Creighton’s Crazy Egg Cafe, where the Indiana Farm Bureau sponsored a legislative update on proposals in the General Assembly, which is in the midst of a long budget session in Indianapolis.
Lawmakers heard a list of concerns at the cafe. Representatives from agencies such as Bowen Center, KABS and Cardinal Services all voiced a need for more funding for certain programs and services.
State lawmakers also face pressure to expand prekindergarten education pilot programs across the state.
But the state’s effort to establish a long-term funding solution for road maintenance took center stage and exemplified the legislative quandary.
While the session is still somewhat early, the tentative plan is to raise fuel taxes by a dime, tie the tax rates to inflation, increase vehicle fees, including $150 for all electric cars and study establishing toll fees on Interstates 70 and 65.
Lawmakers believe they need to come up with at least $900 million in new revenue to support the road plan.
Still, it’s a tough sell for Republicans who control both chambers and the governor’s office. Among those participating were Republican State Reps. Dave Wolkins, Dist. 18; Curt Nisly, Dist. 22; and State Sens. Randy Head, Dist. 18, and Blake Doriot, Dist. 12.
A handful of people spoke against the funding plan.
Jay Haughee, Leesburg, said he came to put a face on the impact they are considering with regard to road funding.
He said he does almost all of his driving in the state and estimated that he could end up paying about $3,000 in new taxes.
“Yes, we need roads, but we need to find an equitable way rather than beating on the people that are already paying their fair share,” Haughee said.
The sentiment for the need to increase revenues seems to be apparent among some lawmakers and constituents.
Wolkins said state lawmakers 20 years ago lacked the political guts to raise the gas tax sufficiently.
“I think we’re all to the point where we need to fix it rather than kick it down the road,” Wolkins said.
Nisly said he likes the idea of dedicating all of the gas tax for road projects. Yet, he said he still prefers not to raise taxes to cover the costs.
The outlook among some about paying more taxes to see road improvements appears to exist.
Wolkins said more than 60 percent of respondents to a survey in his district support the notion of raising taxes, but only if it goes toward roads.
A show of hands on a similar question was posed and a clear majority of those in the room indicated support for some tax increase if it was dedicated to roads.
Doriot, a first-year lawmaker from Elkhart County, pointed out that most bridges are expected to last for about 70 years, but about 70 percent of the state’s bridges are 50 years old.
“The piper’s coming and we’ve got to pay him,” Doriot said. “We’re going to do our best to keep it as reasonable as we can.”
“We’ve got to look at this hard and we’re going to come up with some answers that some of you are not going to like,” Doriot said.
Head said he’s still looking for input. It boils down to whether people are willing to pay more for better roads.
He said he thinks much could still change.
“All of this is a work in progress,” Head said. “I’m going to guess the price tag is going to go down.”
County Commissioner Ron Truex, one of several county level officials who attended the meeting, compared the state’s situation to Kosciusko County’s circumstances two years ago when officials decided to raise the wheel tax despite strong opposition from constituents. The result has seen improvements to a large number of county roads.
County councilman Bob Sanders, though, pointed out that revenues still are not enough to properly address needed repairs.
Truex added that the same pressures they see on the local level exist at the state level.
“We do appreciate the position you guys are in, however ... when we get through the budget process in the county, there are many worthy organizations that count on public money to operate.”
When the state cuts funds, those groups often turn to the county for support, Truex said.
At the same time, the county struggles with more mandates from the state, which the county has to pay for.
The circumstances, he said, are “heartbreaking.”