Fiscal Note
No appropriation required.
Title
SUBSTITUTE - Urging the state to adopt a sustainable transportation funding system.
Body
WHEREAS, in order for Wisconsin to be competitive in a 21st century global economy, we need a multi-modal transportation network that is responsive to our growth and aligned with the changing preferences of our workforce; and,
WHEREAS, Wisconsin’s economy is dependent upon local roads but, according to the Local Government Institute of Wisconsin, the condition of Wisconsin’s highways is now in the bottom third of the country; and,
WHEREAS, state funding for local roads has failed to keep up with costs over the past several decades; levy limits have prevented local governments from compensating for this deterioration of funding; and municipal transportation spending has declined from $275 per capita in 2000 to $227 in 2012; and,
WHEREAS, fast high quality transit systems are critical to attracting businesses and young people to urban areas; yet state funding for transit is less today than it was five years ago; and,
WHEREAS, Wisconsin’s over-reliance on borrowing eats away at the state’s segregated funding sources - the state gas tax and vehicle registration fees - which increasingly pays for debt service rather than fund transportation needs; and,
WHEREAS, from a competitive standpoint Wisconsin motorists and other users of Wisconsin highways pay significantly less than any of our neighbors when you combine the annual cost of the state gas tax and vehicle registration fees is combined; and,
WHEREAS, the state highway and interstate system is the backbone of our surface transportation system and plays a vital role in the economy of Wisconsin. Both local and state roads need to be properly maintained in order for our economy to grow; and,
WHEREAS, the Transportation Finance and Policy Commission, appointed by the Governor and Legislature clearly found that if Wisconsin does not adjust its user fees, the condition of our state and local roads as well as local transit systems will deteriorate significantly over the next decade; and,
WHEREAS, economic decisions affecting the flow of goods, commuting patterns and the location of new businesses are increasingly indifferent to local jurisdictional boundaries, which is why most other metropolitan areas in the country have moved to regional transportation funding,
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City of Madison urges the Governor and Legislature to #JustFixItWI and to agree upon a sustainable transportation solution: one that includes a responsible level of bonding, and reliable state funding for local road improvements, addresses provides adequate local transit funding options including regional transit authorities, high-speed commuter rail and bus rapid transit, and adjusts our user fees to adequately and sustainably fund Wisconsin’s multi-modal transportation system. Furthermore, the City directs the Clerk to send a copy of this resolution to our State Legislators, Governor Scott Walker and the League of Wisconsin Municipalities.