Porter County, Indiana, is divided on the proposed tax increases to support the Chicago Bears’ new stadium in Hammond. While Bears officials are focused on Hammond as the site for the team’s new domed stadium, support is shaky for some of the local tax increases underpinning Indiana’s incentive package.

Local Tax Opposition

Porter County Commissioner Jim Biggs said he’s seen no reason to change his opposition to imposing a 1% restaurant tax in his county, with the money going toward the stadium project in Lake County. Biggs stated that there’s a negligible percentage of Porter County residents who support creating a food-and-beverage tax in their county and sending that money to Hammond.

Porter County Council President Andy Vasquez, who lost in the Republican primary, said the council won’t take any action on the restaurant tax this year. Craig Kenworthy, who defeated Vasquez, did not reply to emails seeking comment but had campaigned on a platform of ‘No new taxes for Lake County projects!’

State Support

Indiana’s stadium offer, approved by lawmakers and signed by Gov. Mike Braun, would direct more than $1 billion in taxpayer money toward stadium-area infrastructure. Braun expressed confidence that the stadium will be built in Hammond, despite Illinois leaders saying they are continuing talks with the team.

Republican House Speaker Todd Huston has had ‘great conversations with local elected officials in Lake and Porter counties about the stadium project and what it will mean for the region.’ Huston’s spokeswoman, Molly Gillaspie, said the tax revenue collected for the public portion of the project is directly tied to revenue generated at and around the stadium.

Hammond’s Perspective

Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott said the Bears continue looking at possible stadium sites in the city beyond the one initially proposed along Wolf Lake near the state line. McDermott believes that the people support the Bears’ move into the region, knowing it will bring some taxes to the area.

Original reporting: 93.1 WIBC (Indianapolis) — read the source article.