Title
Resolution in support of a constitutional amendment for fair share for local roads.
Body
WHEREAS, local roads are the backbone for Wisconsin commerce and industry, stimulate growth, and promote a healthy economy; and,
WHEREAS, roughly 90% of Wisconsin's public roads are local roads which carry 40% of the state's traffic, yet only 30% of the Wisconsin's segregated Transportation Fund spending in 2012 will go for local road projects - down from 40% 20 years ago; and,
WHEREAS, road user fees like gasoline taxes and vehicle registration only pay for part of the costs of repair, maintenance, repaving, and replacement of local roads and streets; and,
WHEREAS, the State Transportation Fund is shrinking because roughly 30% of its funding comes from gasoline taxes and the high cost of gasoline has motorists driving less, driving more fuel efficient cars, buying fewer gallons of gasoline, and paying less in gasoline taxes; and,
WHEREAS, 80% of local road costs are paid by non-user funding sources like property taxes; and,
WHEREAS, most user fee revenues are spent to fund state and federal highways, leaving little funding for local road repair, maintenance, repaving, and replacement; and,
WHEREAS, cities and villages in 2010 received state funding for only 17% of eligible road maintenance costs; and,
WHEREAS, local governments are subject to tight levy limits on local levies, and state shared revenue have been cut for local governments, which further restricts the cities' ability to fund local road maintenance.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of West Allis that the City does hereby state its support of an amendment to the State of Wisconsin constitution that requires that one-half of all revenues in the State Transportation Fund be distributed to local governments in the State of Wisconsin.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this Resolution be provided to Governor Walker, the Officers and Clerk of th...
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