Town Council President Carol Miano thinks Merrillville isn't receiving the same opportunity as another municipality in the state.
During Tuesday's council meeting, Miano said the town developed a proposal asking state lawmakers to give Merrillville the ability to enact a 1 percent food and beverage tax.
While that proposal didn't advance, there is pending legislation that would give the Cloverdale Town Council the authority to enact a food and beverage tax in that community.
Miano thinks it's unfair that Merrillville isn't given the same chance as Cloverdale. Cloverdale is a town of about 2,000 midway between Terre Haute and Indianapolis.
"We desperately need funding for our town," she said of Merrillville's financial situation.
Councilman Shawn Pettit said this isn't the first time Merrillville has sought fiscal home rule to enact a tax to generate more funding for the town.
A hotel/motel tax is among other ideas the town pursued.
Pettit said the Indiana Association of Cities and Towns has sought fiscal home rule for state municipalities for decades, and he is unsure why the General Assembly won't allow it in Merrillville.
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