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Governor Walker Leads Again – No Tax
Increase Transportation Budget |
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Senator Steve Nass (R-Whitewater) praised Governor Scott
Walker for proposing a responsible 2017-19
Transportation Budget that prioritizes repairing state
and local roads, utilizes a sustainable level of bonding
and doesn’t increase taxes or the vehicle registration
fee. |
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“Governor Walker has kept his word by proposing a
reasonable transportation budget that sets the right
priorities and doesn’t increase taxes or the
registration fee. He has provided an option that
prioritizes the taxpayers’ ability to pay over the
demands of special interests for massive new levels of
government spending.” |
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Governor Walker and the Wisconsin Department of
Transportation provided the following summary of their
proposal: |
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2017-19 Transportation Budget
Proposal Highlights |
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- More transportation funding for all levels
of local government. Local governments will receive a
$65 million increase in aid. This is the largest
year-to-year change in local aids since 1999-2000,
including a 25% increase in the Local Road Improvement
Program, and a 30% increase in the Local Bridge Program.
This proposal will provide more than $672 million in
general transportation aids for our municipalities and
$212 million for our counties, increases of 4.7% and
8.1%, respectively. The rate per mile for our towns will
increase from $2,202 to $2,290, or by 4%.
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- No tax or fee increases. For decades, Wisconsin’s
gas tax has been among the highest in the nation and
is currently among the top 10 states in the nation
for the highest gas excise tax. Governor Walker made
it clear in the 2014 campaign that he would not
support a tax or fee increase without a
corresponding decrease in other state taxes
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- $1.7 billion in funding for the State
Highway Rehabilitation Program. This would be the
largest level of funding for the program in history.
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- Commitment to traffic safety and
maintenance. $605 million in total funding is proposed
for county and statewide efforts to maintain our roads
and improve safety. This is a $69.7 million increase
over the last budget and a 39% increase over Governor
Doyle’s last transportation budget. This funding is
directed toward pavement preservation, new signs,
lighting, and other measures.
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- The lowest level of borrowing since the 2001
– 2003 state budget. This budget will include $500
million in bonding for the Department of Transportation,
which is a significant 41% reduction in borrowing from
the last budget and it maintains the state’s responsible
long-term debt level. According to a recent Pew
Charitable Trusts study, Wisconsin’s total long-term
obligations are fourth lowest in the nation. Even taking
this bonding into account going forward, debt service
levels will remain in line with recommendations from the
Transportation Finance and Policy Commission.
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- Commitment to long-term major projects. This budget
includes more than $560 million in funding for major
projects. This includes keeping Interstate 39/90 and
Highway 10/441 on track while investing nearly $20
million in STH 15 and $25 million in 18/151 Verona Road.
We will also provide $122 million for southeastern
Wisconsin mega projects completing the Zoo Interchange
core, as well as, enumerating and beginning work on the
I94 East-West corridor.
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