HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolutions 2010 (19) RESOLUTION TO PLACE AN ADVISORY REFERENDUM
QUESTION RELATING TO THE STATE OF WISCONSIN SEGREGATED
TRANSPORTATION FUND ON THE NOVEMBER, 2010 BALLOT
Resolution No. JQ (Jb 10)
St. Croix County, Wisconsin
WHEREAS, according to the Wisconsin Legislative Fiscal Bureau, over the past decade
the state of Wisconsin has transferred approximately $1.2 billion from the state's segregated
transportation fund to the state's general fund and replaced it with approximately $800 million in
general obligation (GO) bonds, thereby reducing the amount of money available for
transportation purposes by approximately $400 million; and
WHEREAS, the transfer of money from the segregated transportation fund to the general
fund has eroded the public's confidence that the "user fees" they pay through the state gasoline
tax and vehicle registration fees will be used for transportation purposes; and
WHEREAS, replacing the money transferred from the segregated transportation fund
with GO bonds means Wisconsin is issuing bonds to fund ongoing operations; and
WHEREAS, the Pew Center on the States, an organization that works to advance state
policies that serve the public interest, recently released a report that identified Wisconsin as having
one of the ten worst budget situations in the country and specifically cited transferring money
from the segregated transportation fund and then borrowing money (issuing bonds) to fund
ongoing operations as one of the practices that has put Wisconsin in that situation; and
WHEREAS, the debt service on these bonds is paid out of the state's general fund, which
reduces the amount of money available to fund other programs, such as Shared Revenue, Youth
Aids, Community Aids and courts; and
WHEREAS, using GO bonds in this way has damaged the state's bond rating; a report
issued by CNN in 2009 listed Wisconsin as having the second worst GO bond rating in the
country; and
WHEREAS, the gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees comprise over 90% of the
segregated transportation fund, and revenues from these two sources have been declining and are
inadequate to meet the existing transportation needs in this state; and
WHEREAS, Wisconsin's transportation infrastructure is a fundamental component of its
ability to attract and retain business and produce jobs; and
WHEREAS, Minnesota, Iowa, Michigan and Ohio have state constitution provisions to
ensure that this type of transfer cannot occur.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors
that the following question will be put to the voters of St. Croix County as an advisory
referendum on the November, 2010 ballot:
Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the state's
segregated transportation fund?
and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Clerk is directed to cause a copy of the Notice of
Referendum to be published in the County's official newspaper as required by law; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the County Clerk is directed to provide a copy of this
resolution and a copy of the results of the advisory referendum to the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Offered by the Transportation Committee
YES NO ABSTAIN ABSENT SUPERVISOR SIGNATURE
M ❑ ❑ ❑ Roger Rebholz
❑ ❑ ❑ Alfie Schrank
❑ ❑ ❑ Bill Peavey
❑ ❑ ❑ Brian Hurtgen fi
❑ ❑ ❑ Ryan S. Sicard
v
This Resolution was adopted by the St. Croix County Board
Reviewed as to form on C Q of Supervisors on d lL—L <-- 1 S 6 t @
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Greg TinVierman, Corporation Counsel Cindy Campbe , County Clerk