From the Indianapolis Business Journal:
The Senate passed a mass transit bill 28-20 on Tuesday that’s meant to give central Indiana officials authority to impose new taxes to pay for an expanded bus system for the region.
Senate Bill 176 could mean higher taxes for individuals and corporations—but only if county officials vote to impose them and voters agree via county referendums.
The bill now moves to the House, where it’s likely to undergo changes. House Speaker Brian Bosma, R-Indianapolis, said Tuesday that his caucus is concerned about the mix of taxes. In the past, the House has passed mass-transit bills that permitted local income tax increases but never higher taxes on businesses.
“I am pleased to see this legislation move forward," Indianapolis Mayor Greg Ballard said in a prepared statement. "Convenient and reliable transportation is critical to attracting new residents and is crucial to the future growth of central Indiana. We have been nationally recognized over the last few years as a great place to live, work and raise a family. A modern, regional mass-transit system is the next step to drive central Indiana forward as an economic engine for our state.”
SB 176 also requires that at least 25 percent of the operating costs for the system come from user fares.
The bill is “going to need some work,” Bosma said. “The concept we agree on. The means of getting there has been the difficulty for a decade.”
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http://www.ibj.com/mass-transit-bill-slips-through-senate-with-changes/PARAMS/article/45986
