Sunday, March 18, 2012

Governor Signs Little Cal Levee Fee into Law

From the Northwest Indiana Times:

"Gov. Mitch Daniels signed into law Friday a measure establishing a permanent funding source to finish construction and maintain levees along the Little Calumet River in Lake County.

Starting next spring, property owners in the Little Calumet River and Burns Waterway watersheds will pay an additional per-parcel fee along with their first property tax bill.

The annual fee varies based on how a property is used. Owners of residential parcels will pay $45 a year; agricultural, $90; commercial, $180; and industrial or utility, $360.
...

The nonpartisan Legislative Services Agency estimates the fee will generate $7.3 million a year. The money will pay to complete and fund ongoing maintenance of the levees built over the past 25 years at a cost of $275 million in federal and state funds.
...

Property owners in the following Lake County cities and towns are set to be charged the annual levee fee: Munster, Highland, Griffith, Dyer, Schererville, Lake Station, New Chicago, Hobart and Merrillville; most of Winfield and Crown Point; southern portions of Hammond and Gary; and part of St. John."


Read more: http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/governor-approves-little-cal-levee-fee/article_f4c29ea2-70b8-50b7-abed-2691cade3ddc.html#ixzz1pU445IU3