Hope remains for Griffith, Cal Township legislation

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Updated: March 24, 2012 9:08AM

INDIANAPOLIS — Language that would have capped township poor-relief spending and lowered property taxes for Griffith residents was stripped out of legislation just before a vote Wednesday, but town officials said the move is not as detrimental as it sounds.

House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Jeff Espich, R-Uniondale, was uncomfortable with Senate Bill 344’s language regarding budget issues between Calumet Township and Griffith, according to Griffith Town Councilman Rick Ryfa, R-3rd. The language was removed before the legislation was brought to the House floor Wednesday.

Having the language included, while optimal, wasn’t completely necessary, however, because if the House passes the bill, it will go into a reconciliation committee to craft language with which all entities would be satisfied.

“We’re still alive until the very last day,” Ryfa said. “We can also offer amendments in the House.”

Ryfa said the town has two solutions in mind for the bill: either capping the levy at a different rate — which the Senate already approved in the first go-around — or allowing Griffith to secede from Calumet Township, which has been the argument all along.

“(Secession) would be the easiest and most beneficial to everyone involved,” Ryfa said. “If we’re allowed to go our separate ways, the township would lose only less than $2.5 million. Under the bill as it was, the township stood to lose $8 million.”

“We hope the legislators realize that capping language will have a much bigger impact than just letting us go,” he said.

If the town is allowed to secede, Griffith wouldn’t be the only entity to benefit, Ryfa said. Gary, for example, would see $2 million added to its coffers; the Lake County Solid Waste District would realize $21,000; and Lake Station would even see a monetary boost. Griffith, meanwhile, would see $100,000 come back.

“The bill would’ve helped at a time where budgets are really stressed,” Ryfa said.