According to The Times of Northwest Indiana, plans to expand the South Shore Line to Dyer are on track after Governor Mike Pence announced yesterday that he had signed the law Senate Enrolled Act 367, which both closed a Lake County Tax loophole and directed the $4 million a year in savings to the northwest Indiana Regional Development Authority.

The Times states that, including the $53,000 pledged thus far by Dyer, additional funds will be combined with economic development tax revenue contributed by Lake County Cities and town to create the financial match necessary to obtain federal funding.

According to The Times, the $4 million earmarked to support the rail expansion will come from the adjustment of residential property tax credit in Lake County. The Times notes that the adjustment will ensure only home with less than $18,000 in total income claim the $300 credit intended to assist low-income homeowners pay property taxes. The Times reports a total of 13,400 county homeowners last year whose income topped the cut-off line but received the credit due to not counting investment or retirement income when determining eligibility for the tax credit. 

For further information, visit The Times of Northwest Indiana’s website here.