Food and Beverage Tax

Food and Beverage Tax

Quote :

South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority CEO Speros Batistatos said only 1 percent of the county's households use the current services. He distributed a new public transit study indicating there is no evidence to support talk of increasing ridership.

Batistatos said the tax would result in restaurant closings and 180 lost jobs. "This tax is a job eliminator."

Don't believe Speros for one second. He wants the tax. He wants it for a convention center in Lake County.

Of course he wants it for a convention center

You know what? I've seen nothing but empty busses driving around in Hammond.

I think they should actually save money by spending money to send out a survey in Lake County to ask those of us if we use transportation via bus, and how often, if the service is valuable to them, etc.

Many communties have reverted to mini vans for the elderly that seem to be the only ones that utilize a very limited service that meets their needs. All I have ever observed in four to now going on five years are empty buses with no more than two on-board, and looking young enough to own a car or walk. All that gas, fumes, and money wasted could be better directed to a seniors "Dial-A-Ride".

It should have a schedule of making rounds on Monday, Wednesday and Friday, and calls placed one week in advance or a few days ahead. Then the VAN can make the appropriate route pick-ups, and serve those that really need a ride.

The buses are nothing but a waste. The way Chicago Transit is going down, despit the increase in ridership, and the Metro being backed up by frozen tracks, job loss, increase taxes, people moving out of the city....this is no time to even think of raising taxes on restaurants and such.

I feel bad for restaurants. They generally don't see any increase in revenue after the first year of opening...and with the economy, more and more are shutting down.

Haven't they learned from IL's mistakes? The jobs downtown, the increase in parking fees, the new meter rates, the fact that everyone is fed up with the cost of living in Crook County, don't be surprise if that stupid deal with the Olympics falls through.

My daughter used to work at the Marriott a couple of years ago. They raised the hotel tax, and down went the number of people booking for rooms.

Hopefully, I pray with all my heart, that Indiana learns from IL and does the right thing by holding strong on the money, and not spend it on frivolous stuff, such as the statue, the lake-front, or any pet project.

No new taxes at all. We're burned out. The pantries are burned out. The country is seriously partaking in a huge surge of foreclosures and job loss.

Who in their right mind would want to impose any new tax at a time when they are talking "tax cuts" in Washington, but turn around with a new federal "tax" increase on cigs. Geez, give the US a break.

The war, the economy, the everything. These lawmakers need to wake up and realize they can't squeeze us anymore. They need to take their own jobs and squeeze themselves.

I'm starting to believe the only security in a job is to be a politician and years ago, it was the belief there was no security in being a politician. Now I understand....once a politician, if the mayor is out, you move up...to something different as a public servant. There is a guarantee you are covered if you like politics.

They need to get rid of bs projects such as the visitor's center. Who the hell knows where it's at? I pee where the nearest place is....all a vistor's center to me is if you happen to be around the one when ya need to pee. All else is nothing to be funded for. It's stupid.

Convention center, Mike? For what? They can learn to use high school gymnasiums. I'm absolutley sick of politicians drumming up things when they should fund the things they need to fund. I can't wait 'til there is no one left to tax anymore. Let them drown.

I gotta admit...I'm kind of proud of the Rebellious Republicans refusing to release that 3.5 billion Obama wants - because they want to be accountable, and also, to my suprise, the Democrats in Congress not wanting to release it.

I hope to GOD, they don't release that money. All of us should take that suggestion to release it to US and we'll stimulate the economy back to where it was. Enough to pay our bills and buy from Walmart! LOL

UrRight wrote:

I hope to GOD, they don't release that money. All of us should take that suggestion to release it to US and we'll stimulate the economy back to where it was. Enough to pay our bills and buy from Walmart! LOL

Yeah! Give that money to us. We would be buying cars, going on vacation, building houses, eating out, buying clothes and investing. Why wouldn't that work? Can some one tell me?

URRight - I don't know where the money comes from for Lake County's Visitor's Center, but Porter County's is funded by a tax that is paid by people who stay in Porter County's hotels. It's tourism driven. And the other thing to it is that there are actually things to see and do in Porter County.

Party - I don't know about you Party, but I'd pay off bills and horde any money I'm given like no tomorrow. I wouldn't stimulate the economy. I'd keep afloat.

I don't know where the money comes from for Lake County's Visitor's Center

As I understand it some of the money comes from a hotel reservation booking tax. There was a big to do when national booking agents refused to collect that tax and the courts ruled they didn't have to. So I too believe Spiros is being less than honest about opposing the tax. He wants revenue for his budget, as would any politico.

As for hording, about the best thing you could do is go buy canned groceries, toilet paper or anything that will last a long time and you will need. The way the government is wrecking the US dollar and prices are rising it's about the only thing that makes sense anymore.

Oh I just meant any money would go into a checking account.

I'm sure there will be plenty of that going on if this tax passes.

There really aren't that many good places to eat in Lake County anyway. I'd much rather cross into Porter County to eat out.

Well, I'd pay off my credit cards, and do what Mirage said. Buy the staples you need that don't rot, and then I would do what Paul does.

But, it just sickens me while shopping...I can remember always having canned goods, cheese, eggs, milk, butter, even spices galore on hand to make do with noodles or what not.

It doesn't seem to be the case today. Things at Food 4 Less for instance, I laughed. A can of sardine last I saw was less than a buck a can (I only remember 39 cents) and at Food 4 Less it was a couple of bucks. The meat/poultry/what-not is much higher unless you know your sale prices. Some stuff are around the area of what you would expect to pay, but to be truthful, I know my prices, clip coupons, and my first alternative is Aldies. Especially since they've upgraded their grocery content.

Getting back to the money - they released it today. I guess all it took was a "whisper". I am scared about it. Today Citi-Bank merged with Morgan Stanley, from what I understand, it won't be a one stop place anymore (Citi). It worries me because they got bail-outs.

I am going to write to Obama - or his silly web-sit, and try and stir up some trouble. I think we taxpayers are still being ignored; it's our money being doled out to banks of all institutions that should be the most trusted.

I just don't get it with all these pet projects, when the people have no money anymore to enjoy even the simple things in life. To me, my refrigerator being full, the cubbards, that gave me enough confidence to not worry - things would take care of themselves. But I feel the pinch every day, when trying to concoct meals the way I walways did, being out of this or that...and it never used to be that way. I can only imagine others going through this with children, while mine are grown...and it aggravates me.

When these politicians come up with a visitor's center, and stupid stuff like that...did they ever think times have now changed? All people do is pee in those places. They don't bother picking up brochures, and asking what is in the area. It's a rest-room-rest-stop. DUH! We only use the one past the Michigan border to pee, for criminey sakes! What a waste of money. What's with these politicians? We want money in our pockets, and not OUT. Forget the visitors' centers, the railroad, the buses, wipe them out. No one is using the buses, the railroad is sufficient in Hammond, no one had a public outcry wanting more than what's there. They just make do.

What happened to those days of making "DO?"


Paul, stick it in the bank. I stuck every penny I ever made from working for Bozo's at 16, doubling up the money, babysitting even on high school nights, and socket it away. When I was 17, I had a brand new car, apartment, landed a job at the gov't. Gumberment. Excuse me.

Anyway, we need to start all over and forget about shooting up retail when people are buying over the internet, etc. Forget shopping malls, and cinemax's. Kids download the movies on the computer, as I witnessed babysitting the last two days. Well, occupying her...

I just wish all these politicians would quit. The RDA had no right allowing money for the Hammond lakefront and the Wolf Lake thing. They should have shunned that, along with Mayor McDermott, and focused on the levee.

What good is all that crap if the Borhman gets flooded, houses go under and who the hell would take another turn towards that area, after swimming in water with their water-soaked vehicle?

We have less to offer than Chicago, so dump the idea. People are not going to travel here to go THERE. Pray I'm wrong. I'll eat my words.

For now, I say, no more spending...stop everything and fix what needs to be fixed.

As far as eating out Paul, if I really do want to spend the money, I go to well, I don't go.

As far as grocery shopping goes we are going to start buying everything from Aldi's except their produce.

Post-Tribune Editorial

Quote :

Batistatos' $4.6 million annual budget is funded with casino admission taxes and an innkeepers tax. Makes you wonder where it goes.

It sure does. Porter County does the same job on less than a quarter of the amount of Speros' budget. Furthermore, there is much more to see and do in Porter County entertainment wise.

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But Batistatos thinks a food-and-beverage tax ought to be used to fund a convention center. Can't blame him.

Of course this is the tax Speros referred to as the "job eliminator" (see the first post.)

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But there won't be buses unless we find a way to fund them. The same holds true for a convention center.

We ought to aim high and think we can get both of them accomplished.

Here's where I disagree with Rich James. We have a convention center. It's the Genesis Center, and there is nothing wrong with it. Also it's ridiculous that Lake County as a whole should have to suffer to provide Gary and Hammond with bus service. Valparaiso doesn't make Porter County pay for their bus. Why the hell can't Gary and Hammond budget their money and fund their own damn bus? Why should I have to pay a tax if I eat out in Hobart to pay for Gary busses? If they can't finance their own public transportation then let them walk god damn it.

One thing about the buses. If they are grandfathered in to Federal subsidies they could lose that money if there's a lapse between Hammond ending it's program (perhaps Gary as well?) and the RDA taking over. I'm amazed that they seem to have plenty of money for everything EXCEPT transportation. So IMHO the RDA outta start worrying about actually tackling transportation issues and leave the parks & museums for later.

Mirage wrote:

One thing about the buses. If they are grandfathered in to Federal subsidies they could lose that money if there's a lapse between Hammond ending it's program (perhaps Gary as well?) and the RDA taking over. I'm amazed that they seem to have plenty of money for everything EXCEPT transportation. So IMHO the RDA outta start worrying about actually tackling transportation issues and leave the parks & museums for later.

The Dial-a-ride service was stopped last saturday.
http://www.post-trib.com/news/1409929,NWI-bus-service.article
Losing the Dial-a-ride service will hit poor and disabled people very hard. Most of them just required a few rides every month for doctor visits. IMO, this kind of demand based bus service is the most cost effective way to provide public transportation and should have been the last to go,not the first.

The Dial-a-Ride should be priority. The fat butts I've seen on an almost empty bus could lose the weight by walking. The priorties are wrong, just darn wrong. The bus transportation never was required to take a survey or an audit to see how many actually ride the buses. How old were they? Where do they ride them?

To cut out the Dial-a-Ride is punishing senior citizens, rather than the fat butts you might see (one, at the most) on a bus. We have bus stops galore, but never see a bus around in Hammond at any of those bus stops at any given time. Only on arterial streets with one or two the most on-board.

Without even asking for data, based on a single dollar, I can guarantee you that it costs 10,000 dollars to transport the fat, one-time rider you see on any given bus. Especially those that I never see stop at a bus stop along 173rd.

My neighbor down the block would have to walk from 173rd to Gavitt, which I noted is just couple of blocks west of Indianapolis Blvd. I asked her why she just doesn't hop the bus stop on the corner. Her response: They don't come when you need them, and it would take too long to get there.

If I'm not here, she has to walk, as a thirteen year old, down the street to 175th and Columbia, and walk all the way by herself, 6:00 a.m., in the morning to reach Gavitt, by 7:00 a.m. If these buses are so necessary, why aren't they serving their purpose?

here is the thing.

people have to get used to one of two mindsets. either local taxes are going to go up. or local services are going to be cut. services can not and will not be maintained at current or increased levels without increasing taxes. the tax caps mandated by the legislature make this an impossibility.

im fine with cutting some services myself. no buses? no prob for me. no sattelite health depts? fine! consolidate assessors/treasurers/recorders offices local libraries, 4 courthouses? long overdue!

but that isnt where the big money in county government is. and doing all of the above will still leave some cuts to be made. and at the county level that means the sherrifs dept (including corrections which combined makes up 50% of the county budget) has to be cut. yet thus far nobody has stepped forward to recognize that, much less make a proposal. for the council and commissioners to continue with their heads in the sand on this issue, is akin to the congress ignoring the repeated problems in the banking industry until they were all on the brink of collapse before doing anything.

and beyond that...if you want anything else at all? regional transportation, a convention center, south shore extension money etc....well that is going to need a new revenue source seperate from existing taxes.

im not saying that any of those projects are worthy (or not) of new taxes. only that each issue should be judged seperately on its merits, with the knowledge that a new tax to fund the project would be an absolute necessity to make the project a reality.

people have to get used to one of two mindsets. either local taxes are going to go up. or local services are going to be cut. services can not and will not be maintained at current or increased levels without increasing taxes. the tax caps mandated by the legislature make this an impossibility.

Unfortunately you omit the obvious 3rd option. Services can be cut and taxes still increase, not only from trending but from additional new taxes such as the F&B tax for example just shifting the budget it's billed on.

All I know is what I know with bus stops all along 173rd from Indianapolis Blvd., to Calumet Avenue. I have never once observed one person since 2004 sitting underneath any bus stop.

All I have observed twice was one bus with one passenger on Cal & 173rd, passing along Cal Avenue, with the destination on the bus, marked for Target. This was late morning.

The other was at Walmart, shortly after Ms. Free claimed people needed them to get to Walmart, etc. I saw one person on-board, and then picked a second person up at the corner right before 165th Street. Smoke billowing out, and for what? $2.00 a person? Is that the fare? I wouldn't sit outside in below zero weather for a ride to work at any given time. I would make arrangements for the store, etc. I would find a way.

Perhaps things are different in other parts of Lake County, but a survey, something - maybe station census patrol people to mark down the timeliness, the number of passengers, and what not it takes, to make it known whether they are needed in any given area. I have honestly NEVER witnessesed anyone ever sitting at any bus stop where I have gone. Never.

I would understand if there were a bus with people heading to work at the hospitals, clinics, what-not. That hasn't been the case. Only males, bigger than wales riding alone. How much gas is that? I have to ration my gas for the month. These buses are running on full tanks, billowing out smoke for one or two passengers. Most are empty. It's a waste of money. It's awful.

I think if I were to go in business, it would be a remarkable market to lease a van for six months, and call myself a Dial-A-Ride, and just serve the very people that can't wither the weather, (elderly), or simpl people that need to be picked up at home with wheelchairs, and dropped off at appts., and pick them up and return them home. Evolve the whole route around the amount of calls and their destinations. There's money in that...and I was seriously thinking about that.

Some service where people can say, "He, I need a ride tomorrow, cuz someone else broke their appt., and the doc said I can get in...." Situations like that. I've rode with the elderly where they need to go to the bank, and the ride dropped off other patrons, and came back less than a half hour, and dropped off the patron all within an hour. Something needs to be done for the disabled, the elderly, and the bus system is not the answer. This isn't Chicago...this is Hammond...and we've lot's of elderly people that would utilize this service.

I've seen where they had to hire an outside "helper" service, and see that the person taking care of the patient, had to also make sure the partner, could stabilize himself to get to the car, to drive the "patient" to the doctor's appt., where he/she was in no way in any condition to take the partner to the doctor, but it was my job to see he whobbled to the wheel, to get he/she there.

That's where the need is...our Senior Citizens should come first, there should be a life-line phone call, and allow them dignity and independence in one area where their kids thinks they may not be deserving of. Sorry I'm talking away, but when it comes to all the money they spend on empty buses, nothing peeves me off more than to see one fat gang-banger on a bus, and ignoring those who've served their life-time making our country better, not being able to rely on a simple ride from the city. Money wasted is the bus system. I'll argue that for the rest of my life.

We give to those who never gave. We neglect those who always gave and now need our help. These people, this last generation, deserve better. The people with pants with crotches down to their ankles, piercing, tattoos, earings, sloppy clothing, gang-banger outfits, get the free ride.

What's wrong with this picture? I'm looking at this from a different angle. This is only what I see in Hammond. I can't speak for the other communities, but it is my assumption, if I was between 65 or 80, I wouldn't feel safe to board any damn bus, even in daylight, with one other passenger that is young enough to walk or old enough to own his/her own car.

I hope it's a different perspective from E.C., Whiting, or Gary, but for Hammond, I know too many respectible elders that have to pay for outside help to get where they want to go safely.

And that's sad.

I'm still waiting for detailed breakdown on all the bus service ridership.

Lets see if dial a ride was really as busy as they claimed, lets see if the V-Line is as popular as the city claims.

Oh yeah I forgot, the only numbers comes from the runners of the lines, and they refuse to allow elected officials to see the raw numbers(because then they would release that hose numbers are false)

Get rid of buses all together, not enough people use them to justify the expenses that they incur. Go buy a mini van and do an on demand service instead, much cheaper and easier

With so many people out of jobs, where are they going?

UrRight wrote:

With so many people out of jobs, where are they going?

They are going for a ride on the buses according to the agencies in charge of the buses


What you never took a bus ride to just to get out of the house before?

Actually that's what I used to do on the South Shore back when Ronny's Steak House was there on Randolph. I'd go for a cheap movie and an even cheaper steak just to kill time.

Mirage wrote:

Actually that's what I used to do on the South Shore back when Ronny's Steak House was there on Randolph. I'd go for a cheap movie and an even cheaper steak just to kill time.

Ever waste any time across the street at the "Treasure Chest"?

Doesn't sound familiar.