INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — State Sens. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) and Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield) yesterday (July 9) announced that Purdue University is a recipient of a $2,085,000 grant to help find ways to improve the nation’s transportation system.

Hershman said Purdue is only one of 10 universities across the country selected competitively by the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT). The monies are the third installment from USDOT and all federal dollars must be matched by non-federal contributions.

The NEXTRANS Center is the USDOT Region V Regional University Transportation Center, and covers the states of Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota. The Center was established in 2007 based on an award from USDOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration (RITA) to conduct a multidisciplinary program of transportation research, education, and technology transfer through a Regional University Transportation Center headquartered at Purdue University in West Lafayette, Indiana.

“These grant monies will help Purdue continue to serve as leaders in meeting the nation’s need for safe, efficient and environmentally-sound transportation systems,” Hershman said. “The university’s NEXTRANS center will apply cutting-edge technology to find infrastructure efficiencies and ultimately, help make our roads safer.”

NEXTRANS was established in 2007 – based on an award from US­DOT’s Research and Innovative Technology Administration – in order to implement a multidisciplinary program of transporta­tion research, education and technology.

Alting said NEXTRANS has worked to improve traf­fic flow in congested intersections, calculate work zone delays, reduce emergency vehicle crashes, deter­mine which materials create the shortest braking distanc­es and improve railroad track inspections.

“Purdue has made significant strides in providing a program that shows great relevance to our nation’s transportation challenges,” Alting said. “Sharing knowledge and resources to disseminate best practices about transportation issues is an investment that could help save lives.”

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. -– Next year, Hoosiers could receive their property tax statements by e-mail and make monthly online tax payments if their county elects to do so, according to State Sen. Ron Alting (R-Lafayette).

House Enrolled Act 1344, supported by Alting and Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield) and recently signed into law, gives counties the option to send property tax statements via e-mail. All residents would have to do is voluntarily make a request to use e-mail instead of U.S. mail.

Many grimace at the notion of writing one or two large property tax checks per year.

“Direct deposit of payments through EFT has become increasingly popular because it is more secure and, for most recipients, more convenient than checks,” Alting said. “County governments can also save money by eliminating some of their printing, processing and postage costs.”

Hershman said the program is voluntary for counties and taxpayers. The county executive body must first pass an ordinance allowing for the method to be used and the taxpayer must sign a waiver and give an e-mail address to their county treasurer.

“An average county spends a $1 to a $1.50 to print and mail each property tax bill,” Hershman said. “Depending on taxpayer participation, counties could save thousands of dollars by sending out statements electronically and using a monthly, online payment system.”

Tippecanoe County Treasurer Bob Plantenga said mailings make up the biggest portion of his operating budget and using an electronic system could mean real savings.

“This measure could be a win-win situation for the taxpayers and for the taxing entities,” Plantenga said. “Writing a large check twice a year for property taxes can be burdensome on budgets, but by having an online, monthly payment option Hoosiers could have more predictability when planning for expenses.”

Indiana’s Department of Local Government Finance will create a waiver so taxpayers can authorize online actions by electronic mail.

Currently, Indiana law permits automatic payments from checking accounts. Some counties have a service contract allowing taxpayers to pay their total bill online or by phone.

House Enrolled Act 1344 is effective July 1, 2009.

Dear Editor:

Bankrupt Unemployment Fund Fix Balances Needs of Workers, Concerns of Businesses
Indiana’s General Assembly last week approved a plan to replenish the state’s bankrupt jobless fund. The bill, which passed the Senate 46-3, is a bipartisan compromise that preserves worker benefits, restores the fiscal integrity of the system, and prevents premium increases for employers who do not lay off workers – generally speaking, Indiana’s vital family-owned small businesses.

For industries with layoff histories, typically big business, any premium increases would be phased in over two years to help ease the impact during these troubled economic times. Regardless of size, if a business never lays off workers, a decrease in premiums should result.

To further empower business and restore the integrity of the system, House Enrolled Act 1379, which we co-authored and advocated, launches a series of sweeping reforms to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse and creates new on-going oversight to prevent future problems with Indiana’s unemployment insurance fund.

For some time, premiums paid by businesses – which fund unemployment benefits for laid-off Hoosiers – have failed to keep pace with benefits paid-out to workers. As a result, Indiana’s fund is now partially sustained by a more than $800 million interest-free loan from the federal government, an amount estimated to top $1 billion by year’s end.

If lawmakers failed to find a fix in the near-term, we risked facing a federal government takeover of the fund – a move that could have resulted in a massive, permanent expansion of Indiana’s unemployment insurance system and additional premium increases on top of those required to balance the fund.

Thirty states have jobless funds which are already insolvent or at risk of insolvency, according to the National Association of State Workforce Agencies. But many of these states are placing the burden to replenish their funds solely on the shoulders of businesses without looking to find efficiencies in their systems. No general tax revenues are used to fund the UI system. All proceeds are paid in via insurance premiums paid by employers, and all of the premiums in the UI fund are used only to pay unemployed worker benefits.

Common Sense, Cost-Saving Reforms
Indiana’s solution, HEA 1379, balances nearly dollar-for-dollar up to $302 million in cost-savings and reforms to the system with approximately $315 million in premium increases for 2010.

Reforms to the system include the creation of a compliance center tasked with monitoring the fund to prevent improper and overpayments to unemployment insurance claimants and an oversight committee charged with making future recommendations for reforms to the system.

Common-sense, cost-saving reforms will require jobless Hoosiers receiving benefits to actually apply for one job per week, not just look for one as current law provides. Workers fired for poor attendance, working under the influence of alcohol or stealing from their employers will no longer be able to claim benefits.

Fairer, Yet Competitive Premiums
Just as high-risk drivers pay higher premiums for their auto insurance than motorists who rarely have accidents, businesses more likely to lay off workers should pay higher premiums than those that never lay off workers. Consequently, nearly 40,000 Hoosier employers who have never tapped the fund will actually receive a slight decrease in premiums, while those who use the fund more frequently will see increases – but only to levels that maintain Indiana’s economic competitiveness with other states.

Even businesses experiencing the largest increase in their annual, per employee contributions – those who draw down the fund’s balance the most by laying off the most workers – will still pay lower premiums than the Midwest average of $1,042. New premiums will also be phased in over the next two years, giving businesses still recovering from the recession relief from approximately $100 million in 2010 premiums.

A Forward-Thinking, Innovative Solution
Lawmakers went into this session in need of an unemployment reform bill that would work for all Hoosiers — our employed and unemployed, our small businesses and large industries. Senate Republicans worked in a bipartisan fashion to author and pass a comprehensive bill that closes loopholes, protects many small businesses from premium increases and positions Indiana as a forward-thinking, innovative leader in tackling this nationwide problem.

Ron Alting Brandt Hershman Dennis Kruse
State Senator State Senator State Senator
Lafayette–District 22 Wheatfield–District 7 Auburn–District 14

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — State Sen. Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield) announced today that Rensselaer qualifies for a $1.5 million federal grant to move forward with wastewater system updates.

Hershman said the grant monies were made available from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 and he has supported the wastewater improvement projects for several years.

This is one of the state’s first stimulus water projects to be announced.

“These stimulus funds will save residents from having to assume the financial burden and pay higher fees to fund necessary infrastructure improvements,” Hershman said. “This investment in water infrastructure will help not only to serve current residents by improving water quality, but also to prepare Rensselaer for future economic development opportunities.”

Hershman said the recovery act will distribute about $125 million in funds to the Indiana State Revolving Fund, an existing program managed by the Indiana Finance Authority which makes loans to communities for wastewater and drinking water projects.

For more information about the SRF Loan Program, visit the IFA Web site at www.in.gov/srf.

INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — Purdue University’s need to update and renovate their campus medical facility and student recreation center may be fulfilled as newly-released state budget figures include funding for those projects.

State Sens. Brandt Hershman (R-Wheatfield) and Ron Alting (R-Lafayette) worked to include Purdue’s funding in the planned $28.1 billion, two-year state budget released today by Senate Republicans.

Hershman, a member of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, said in anticipation of a state and national shortage of physicians, the Indiana University School of Medicine in Lafayette plans to increase class sizes by 30 percent over the next few years.

“One of the prevailing health care issues today is the decline in medical school graduates,” Hershman said. “Currently, Indiana University School of Medicine in Lafayette does not have the classroom space or modern equipment to help meet these demands. With the help of this funding the school can offer more opportunities for students in a technologically advanced facility.”

Curriculum in the Lafayette medical facility includes a variety of academic experiences in addition to traditional lectures and laboratories. Small group discussions, case-based problem learning, clinical experiences, and service learning project are used to help develop lifelong-learning skills.

Alting said at the request of students, plans for the Recreational Sports Center – including a multi-purpose recreational pool, a multi-story atrium and a wellness wing – may move forward. Plans for the wellness wing include a juice bar, a connecting hallway between the recreation pool and the existing pool as well as a demonstration kitchen.

“Renovations will not be paid for with tax dollars but through minimal increases in student fees. Increased space for students and improved programming will also bring Purdue in line with other Big 10 schools, contribute to the wellness of students and add much-needed jobs,” Alting said. “The renovation and expansion of the recreational center will create more opportunities for weight training, jogging, walking and group exercise.”

Average Big 10 recreational centers allocate 11.8 square feet per student, compared to Purdue’s 7.8. Several Big 10 schools have plans for improvement, and when completed, the average square footage will increase to 15.4 square feet per student, which is approximately 97 percent more space per student than available at Purdue.

Hershman said Purdue students received more than $19 million from State Student Assistance Commission of Indiana’s grants in the 2007 to 2008 school year. Hershman said that amount could significantly increase next year as the amount of monies available to Hoosier students are expected to increase by 15 percent.

“Lawmakers were able to hold overall spending at or below fiscal year 2009 numbers while increasing funding for Purdue in several key areas,” Hershman said.