An area lawmaker has revived a proposal from last year to essentially force Porter and Lake counties to remain in the Northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority for at least 10-year intervals.

H.B. 1607, called the West Lake Commuter Rail Project, would require that the members of the RDA remain members for 10 years after the date that they joined and that before the 10-year period expires, each member must commit to stay on for another 10 years or withdraw from the RDA.

If a county or city withdraws, however, it would be liable to the RDA for any unpaid transfers due and for any amounts due from any bonds issued or lease rental agreements entered into before the withdrawal takes effect.

The RDA consists of the counties of Porter and Lake, along with the cities of Hammond, Gary, and East Chicago. Each of those members annually pays $3.5 million as RDA dues.

The bill, authored by State Rep. Chet Dobis, D-Merrillville, also stipulates that the RDA is to separately account for funds received toward the South Shore extension project to Lowell and Valparaiso. The expansion project is also referred to as West Lake.

Dobis included similar RDA membership language in a bill he authored last year that also sought to capture state sales tax revenue paid in Porter and Lake counties toward the local match required for the South Shore extension. The bill eventually fizzled. Dobis’ bill introduced in this year’s session does not address a local funding source for the project.

The RDA was established in 2005 to serve as the funding mechanism for the expansion of the Gary/Chicago airport, the South Shore commuter service, the shoreline restoration project known as the Marquette Project, regional bus service and other economic development projects deemed appropriate.

Posted 1/21/2009