The Independent-News, Volume 103, Number 34, Walkerton, St. Joseph County, 26 January 1978 — Page 4

JANUARY 26, 1978 — THE INDEPENDENT-NEWS

EDITORIALS

WINTER’S UNSUNG HEROES Ihe state, count) and local town highway and street department crews who battle das and night with the weapons of their trade, snowplows, sand and salt, to keep your highways, secondary roads and town streets open in bitter winter weather, are winter's heroic army The time and effort put in bv these men. even though it is their occupation, deserves special credit and thanks for making the driving conditions the best possible for all of us. The battle is won by the dedication of these people and their use of the weapons in their arsenal. First and foremost, is the snowplows that lead the wav m moving the drifts and fallen snow from the traffic's main arteries. But no less important, is the rest of the program to keep the secondary roads and the local city and town streets in the best shape possible for everyone's convenience. Too often we all criticize, but the battle at hand is not an easy one and only the apparent victory in this war against the weather is clear highways and safe driving conditions, despite the fact that maybe just keeping roads passable and giving as much opportunity to everyone, regardless of where or how little their roads and streets are used, is the true victory. Their work is unselfish, following their orders and doing their best, often for many more hours in succession than most people would be willing to work. The war of the weather probably is not over yet for this winter, but as long as these various departments are on call, to use what they have in their power in the effort to win the battle, we need not worry too much about the situations ahead. They will come to our aid as soon as possible.

Gasoline Tax With Built-In Inflation Factor Is Proposed

An annual "cost of living" increase in the revenue needed to take care of Indiana’s roads and streets would be provided in a bill introduced in the General Assembly January 9 by Rep. Jack W. Mclntyre (R-Lyons). chairman of the House Roads and Transportation Committee. This would be accomplished by a variable motor fuel tax. fluctuating within prescribed limits. To help reduce a huge backlog of needed road and bridge work that has accumulated in recent years, the measure (H. B. 1263) would initial!) boost fuel tax collections 25% during fiscal 1979. starting next Jul) 1. Assuming gasoline consumption remained constant, this would mean a 2 cent increase in the state's current 8-ccnt a gallon fuel tax. In subsequent years, H. B. 1263 calls for an automatic 5% annual increase in fuel tax receipts. Three times a yar, after analyzing previous and anticipated collections, the Department of Revenue would adjust the tax rate, up or down, to the nearest one-tenth of a cent per gallon to keep revenue on target for the prescribed 5% yearly growth factor. At no time would the fuel tax be allowed to exceed 12 cents per gallon, nor be less than 9 cents per gallon, under the proposed legislation. Not all of this new money would be earmarked for roads and streets, however. The percentage increase formula applies to total fuel tax collections, and about 15% is skimmed "off the top" of these receipts to help finance steadily rising operational costs of the State Police and several other agencies. Each penny of Indiana's gasoline normall) produces about $33 million in revenue a year. So. to use an example, if the proposed formula dictated a 2 cent increase in the tax in fiscal 1979, only 85% $56 million, of the new funds would actually be available for allocation to the State Highway Commission and to cities, towns and counties for their road and street programs. 1 he need for an inflation factor in high wav revenue has been apparent for a long time Large!) because of a leveling off in gasoline consumption, net receipts from Indiana's highway user taxes have increased at an average rate of only 19% annually during the last five years At the same time, the Consumer Price Index and highway construction costs were climbing

more than 8% each year. This explains why roads, streets and bridges throughout the state are deteriorating much more rapidly than they can be maintained and repaired. Other Bills Call For Transfers To The Highway Fund Although Governor Bowen and the state and local road officials continue to emphasize the need for adequate, sustained highway financing. rather than another oneshot transfusion of funds, it's apparent that many Genera! Assembly members are thinking in terms of temporary, partial answers to the problem. Five bills have been introduced calling for the transfer of money to Indiana's road and street programs. Sen. Keith McCormick (R-Lefanon) is the sponsor of a measure (S.B. 268) which would divert SSO million from the state's general fund with $25 million going to the State Highway Commission and $25 million to cities, towns and counties. Sen. Frank O'Bannon (D-Cory-don) is the author of S. B. 283 to appropriate $32 million for cities, towns and counties only for their roads and streets. The bill also would liberalize the use of current Local Road & Street allocations. A similar House bill (H. B. 1192), co-sponsored by Reps. Edward Goble (D-Batesville) and Linde! Hume (D-Oakland City), also bypasses state highway needs, it would transfer S6O million to local government for their road and street programs. Chances for passage are extremely unlikely for any fund transfer bill w hich doesn't take into consideration the critical revenue needs of the State Highway Commission. Even if the Legislature should approve such a measure, it almost certainly would be vetoed by Governor Bowen. Although it comprises only 12% of Indiana’s total road and street network, over SO% of all vehicular travel is handled by the 11,500-mile state highwav system Maintenance and improvement of these heavily traveled state routes is of vital concern to every Hoosier motorist. In addition to his vairable fuel tax proposal, Rep Jack Mclntyre has introduced a bill (H. B 1050) to transfer $55 million in general fund monies, dividing it equally between the State Highway Commission and cities, tow ns and counties. Peterson * Bill Would Dedicate A Portion Os Sale* Tax To Highways

A bill sponsored by Sen. Robert Peterson (D Rochester). chairman of the Senate Roads and Transportation Committee, also calls for transferring money to highways, but it goes a significant step further. Effective immediately. S. B. 248 would appropriated $52 million from the state’s general and property tax relief funds to the Motor Vehicle Highway Account, After deductions, 53% of the MVH funds go to the State Highway Commission. 32% go to counties and 15% to cities and towns. Starting in mid-1979. S. B. 248 provides that 6% of Indiana's total sales tax collections be deposited in the MVH fund. These tax receipts have been increasing at about 10% annual rate and, according to latest projections, will reach $825 million this year. This means that Senator Peterson's bill, if enacted, would generate SSO million in the first year for highways, and increasing amounts thereafter if present collection trends continue. Interestingly, the 4% sales tax on gasoline service station sales now nets the state about the same amount — $55 million annually — but none of the revenue is available for highways. It is divided equally between the general and property tax relief funds. Making Turnpike Free Could Take Its Toll The Indiana toll road has been an eminently successful venture. Traffic volume on the 157-mile pay-as-you-ride route has far exceeded projections and it now appears the turnpike's bonds will be redeemed in the mid-1980's. a decade ahead of schedule. Paradoxically, this could have some very unredeeming consequences. The toll road is designated as a part of the Interstate highway system and, as such, presumably would have to be brought up to current Interstate design standards when it becomes a freeway. This would entail, among other things, building another 12 to 14 interchanges. and widening dozens of birdges and bride approaches. Estimated price-tag for this work: at least $l5O million. Nor does this include the $5 million annual cost for maintenance and periodic resurfacing of the route. At present, there is no federal statute which would provide these funds. The U. S. Department of Transportation wants all final Interstate construction under contract by 1986. Thereafter, unless some provision is made, only resurfacing. restoration and rehabilitation funds would be available from Washington. Indiana’s 3R allocation, for all of its Interstate highways is only about $4 million. Ilie Toll Road Commission has requested that it be allowed to continue to collect a level of tolls adequate to pay for the necessary improvements, and the Indiana House of Representatives has already approved, by a 72-12 vote, a resolution (H. C. R. 16) memorializing Congress to grant such authority. Less State Highway Work Awarded Last Year Than In 1966 Contracts valued at $161.6 million were signed during 1977 by the Indiana Highwav Commission. Although the figure reflects a 23% increase over 1976’s $130.7 million (a iO-year low), it is nearly $2 million less than the amount of contracts awarded in 1966. With inflation doubling costs, outlays in 1977 bought less than half as much actual road and bridge construction and improvement as the $163.5 million in contracts let 11 years ago. The 1966 project award total has been surpassed only twice in the last 10 years. Last year's contract dollar volume was only slightly above the $156 million annual average for the decade and $2 million less than the yearly average since 1970. All of which emphas izes why the State Highway Commission, and Indiana's counties,

F^REMEMBER yygL WHEN—

1973 On January 20 the Culver Military Academy Black Horse Troop marched in the Presidential Inagural Parade honoring Richard M. Nixon in Washington, D.C. The school has participated in seven inagurals in 60 years, in 1913 as personal escort to vice president, Thomas R. Marshall, of Indiana; reflection of Woodrow Wilson in 1917; Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1957; John F. Kennedy in 1961; Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965 and Nixon in 1969. Grocery prices were as follows: bread. 5 loaves for 89 cents; standing rib roast, lb. $1.09; pork chops, center cut. $1.09; chili hot beans, six 300 size for $1.00; lettuce, 28 cents a head; gallon of 2% milk. 68 cents; and a gallon of ice cream was 89 cents. 1963 New postage rates, first class: letters five cents, cards four cents, air mail letters eight cents and cards six cents. St. Joseph County basketball tourney, the 37th consecutive, will be played at Washington High School with eight teams competing for the title. Included are North Liberty, Greene, Walkerton. Penn, Lakeville. New Carlisle. New Carlisle. Madison and WashingtonClay. The world-famous Harlem Stars were in Walkerton on Friday, January 11. Claude York, principal at Tyner Schools for 16 years, was named the new superintendent of the Polklincoln United School Corporation. Prices at the Walkerton Livestock Sales found the calf market steady with a top of S3B paid for a 250 lb. holstein calf; $16.30 paid for 15 head of 212 lb. hogs; the bull market steady with a top of $20.30 paid for a 1570 lb. hoi. 220 head of fat cattle on sale with the market about steady with a top of $26.60 paid for a 995 lb. whiteface steer. The Walkerton Fire Department was called to the Plas/Steel Products Co. on January 23 at 9:30 p.m. where fire had gamed considerable headway in the north section of the building where zip poles are made. The loss was estimated at $40,000. The American Legion celebrates their 44th anniversary. 1958 Harry Doll, manager of the newly opened license branch in cities and towns need a "cost of living" factor in their revenue.

CHUCKLE CORNER 3 MASKS so 4 ii *1 ri i n 11 \•.I , I I 1 i LL | BaS»r' * FORGET THE SALES SPIEL 1 JUST GIMME 0H8... QUICKC

Walkerton, has announced that the driver examiner of South Bend will visit the branch for the purpose of giving driver's tests on Wednesdays. Twenty years have passed since the first "March of Dimes Campaign," which began on Januarv 3. 1938. Definite planning is going forward in recent meetings of the Walkerton -Lincoln Tow nship School Board for the construction of the new elementary school. 1948 The new Youth Center opened at the Legion Home on Saturday with pop, ping-pong, dancing to records and a lot of fun had by the youth of the area. Flaugher’s Fiesta, which has been in operation for three years, was sold Tuesday to Kenneth Huffstetter. Fire destroyed the J. B. Williams farm home located five miles north of Culver on Friday. Esther Hinz will take part in the presentation on Tuesday evening, January 20, of Verdi's "The Manzoni Requiem Mass" by the Indiana University Choral Union, assisted by four professional soloists. The Choral Union has 250 members. Gov. Ralph Gates has made an appeal to all users of fuel oil to employ every possible means avaiable to conserve on its use during the present shortage. 1943 Certificates of Award, based upon official appointment and worthy volunteer performance of civilian war duties were presented at the War Rally January 12 at 7:30 o'clock by Gov. Henry Schricker to the following: Walkerton — Verle Zimmerman, Charles Cripe. Jr.. Arthur McKesson. Rev. W. R. Kuhn, John Clark, Vern Hardenbrook, Guy Sharp, A. D. Winner, R. W. Wolfram, F. S. Leßoy, Mrs. Max Barnett, Mrs. Josh F. Spencer. Mrs. Gus Verkier and Glen Walz. North Liberty — Paul Williams, E. P. McDaniel. Dr. W. C. Wisenbaugh. Dewey Thomas, Ray Carbiener. Dr. J. J. Hardy. D. A. Pearse. Clyde Moorman. M. L. Clark, W. W. Bardsley and Mrs. Clara Auld. One of the worst sleet storms in local history broke on this community Sunday afternoon and evening, doing thousands of dollars worth of damage to telephone, telegraph and electric lines. AH car and truck owners must have their tires inspected by January 31 as part of the national gas rationing program.