EDITORIAL: State leaders play politics in forcing local wheel tax to tap road funds

The Indiana Legislature and Gov. Mike Pence had an opportunity to make law a House bill that would have provided a long-term, comprehensive funding mechanism for road repairs. The plan, sponsored by Rep. Ed Soliday, R-Valparaiso, would have channeled a larger share of gas sales tax money to fixing the state’s dismal highways.

But because that plan also included a tax hike — and because it’s an election year — Pence and many legislators instead settled on a short-term, flash-in-the pan funding plan.

Part of that plan requires Hoosier cities and towns to adopt wheel taxes on residents’ vehicles if those municipalities want to tap into matching funds from a state road-fund account.

In other words, the governor and other state elected leaders played politics at a time when Hoosier roads remain the laughing stock of the Midwest.

Local mayors and city and town council members are now left holding the political hot potato of possible new taxes.

The Portage City Council approved a wheel tax — set to take effect Jan. 1 — to collect $25 per residential vehicle and $40 per commercial vehicle registered within the city. It also will collect $12.50 for motorcycles, motor-driven vehicles, recreational vehicle and personal trailers.

Crown Point leaders are in the process of modifying a wheel-tax proposal that would charge $25 for most vehicles the first year of the tax and drop to $15 the second year. And Merrillville is eyeing an annual $25 fee for each registered passenger vehicle and $40 for larger vehicles.

Elected leaders in those municipalities are simply weighing their options and doing what they can to address road conditions in the wake of the state playing kick the can.

Folks have a right to complain about the wheel tax proposals. But send those complaints down the pothole-ridden highways south toward Indianapolis, where fiscal leadership has exhibited more cracks than crumbling Hoosier infrastructure.