HomeMy WebLinkAboutResolution 2013 (05)
Resolution No. 5 (2013)
RESOLUTION URGING STATE LEGISLATORS TO VOTE IN
ST. CRO PNTY FAVOR OF TRANSPORTATION DOLLARS FOR
TRANSPORTATION
WHEREAS, Wisconsin's transportation infrastructure is a fundamental component of its
ability to attract and retain business and produce jobs; and
1 WHEREAS, gas tax and vehicle registration fees, which have been declining and are
2 inadequate to meet the existing transportation needs in this state, comprise over 85% of the
3 state's segregated transportation account; and
4 WHEREAS, Wisconsin's past practice of transferring money from the segregated
5 transportation fund to the general fund has eroded the public's confidence that the "user fees"
6 they pay through the state gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees will be used for their
7 intended purpose; and
8 WHEREAS, Wisconsin's practice of replacing the dollars transferred from the state's
9 segregated transportation fund with General Obligation (GO) bonds puts our state in the
10 precarious position of bonding to fund ongoing operations; and
11 WHEREAS, the debt service for these bonds is being paid for out of the state's general
12 fund which hinders future ability to fund other programs like Shared Revenue, Youth Aids,
13 . Community Aids and courts; and
14 WHEREAS, St. Croix County placed an advisory referendum on the November 2010
15 ballot asking "Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or
16 lapses from the segregated transportation fund?"; and
17 WHEREAS, the people of St. Croix County voted overwhelmingly in favor of this
18 constitutional amendment - nearly 70% "yes"; and
19 WHEREAS, fifty-three other counties in Wisconsin also asked the same advisory
20 referendum question and the support was similar across the state with an average "yes" vote of
21 70%; and
22 WHEREAS, first consideration of this constitutional amendment passed the Wisconsin
23 State Legislature overwhelmingly last session on a bipartisan basis; and
24 WHEREAS, the 2012-13 session of the Wisconsin State Legislature has the opportunity
25 to pass second consideration of this constitutional amendment and in so doing will give the
26 citizens of the entire state the opportunity to vote for amending the state constitution to ensure
27 transportation revenues are spent for transportation purposes; and
28 WHEREAS, providing constitutional protection for transportation user fees will align
29 Wisconsin with our neighbors in Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan.
30 THEREFORE, be it resolved that the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors strongly
31 urges our state representatives to vote in favor of second consideration of the joint resolution to
32 protect the transportation fund, thereby giving voters across this state the opportunity to vote on a
33 binding referendum to amend the constitution and ensuring the transportation user fees they pay
34 will be spent for transportation purposes.
35 FURTHER be it resolved that the St. Croix County Clerk forward copies of this
36 resolution to Governor Scott Walker, Senator Harsdorf, Represenative Severson, Representative
37 Murtha, Representative Knutson and the Wisconsin Counties Association.
Sponsored By. Transportation Committee on December 28, 2012
Legal- Fiscal- Administrative Approvals:
Legal Note: None
Fiscal Impact: There is no financial impact.
a
4 k Don Giuen, Coipc~ ratio Co sel 12/20/2012 Ta ' a r. i se Director 12/21/2012
Pa nck Thompson, County Administrator 12/21/2012
St. Croix County Board of Supervisors Action:
Roll Call - Vote Requirement - Majority of Supervisors Present
RESULT: ADOPTED [17 TO 1]
MOVER: William Peavey, Supervisor
SECONDER: Dave Ostness, Supervisor
AYES: Travis Schachtner, Agnes Ring, Tim Hood, Daryl Standafer, Fred Yoerg, Buck Malick, Chris Kilber, Richard
Ottino, Dave Ostness, Roger Larson, Fred Horne, Andy Brinkman, David Peterson, Joe Hurtgen, Brian Hurtgen,
Duane Russett, William Peavey
NAYS: Ron Kiesler
ABSENT: Tom Hawksford
This Resolution was ADOPTED by the St. Croix County Board of Supervisors on January 8, 2013
Cindy Campbell, County Clerk
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