Contact:

Craig Thompson, Transportation Development Association (TDA) Executive Director

(608) 256-7044; Craig.Thompson@tdawisconsin.org

The Wisconsin Senate and Assembly found an area of common ground today by passing Senate Joint Resolution 23 (SJR 23). The measure is the first consideration of a proposed constitutional amendment prohibiting the use of transportation revenues for non-transportation purposes. SJR 23 passed 26-6 in the Senate and 82-11 in the Assembly.

“I want to commend the Senators and Representatives from both parties who reached across the aisle to pass this very important bill,” said Transportation Development Association Executive Director, Craig Thompson.

TDA aligned with groups across the state this past year to form Finding Forward, a broad-based coalition of more than 40 organizations promoting public support of the constitutional amendment. Finding Forward worked with counties in Wisconsin to place an advisory referendum on the fall ballot asking voters: “Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?” Fifty-four of Wisconsin's 72 counties placed this question on the ballot and an additional ten counties passed resolutions in support of the constitutional amendment. While these referenda were not binding, the public sent a clear message. Voters supported amending the constitution in every county in which the question appeared. The statewide average “yes” vote was 70 percent.

“Last fall, the people of Wisconsin spoke loudly and clearly. They want their transportation user fees to be spent for transportation purposes. Today's vote demonstrates their elected representatives were listening,” said Thompson.

SJR 23 must pass again in the next legislative session before the proposed constitutional language is put before the public in a state-wide binding referendum.

“We are now one step closer to improving the integrity of our transportation fund and our general fund,” continued Thompson. “With confidence restored in the process, Wisconsin can once again ‘find forward'.” 

MADISON — A constitutional amendment designed to prevent lawmakers from raiding money from the state transportation fund to pay for other items has cleared the Legislature.

Both the Senate and Assembly approved the proposal Tuesday on bipartisan votes.

However, it must pass the Legislature again in either 2013 or 2014 and be approved by voters statewide before it could take effect.

Under the Republican-authored amendment, any money the state collects through the gas tax, fees imposed on driver's licenses and titling vehicles must be deposited in the transportation fund. Once in the fund, the money could not be used for any program that isn't run by the state Department of Transportation.

Former Gov. Jim Doyle diverted $1.3 billion from the fund to pay for schools and other expenses. 

By Pete Bach

State lawmakers can block further raiding of the highway trust fund even as a process begins to seek a Constitutional amendment in four years.

So says state Sen. Michael Ellis, R-Neenah, on the heels of the affirmative outcome of a Nov. 2 advisory referendum to prohibit use of state transportation fund monies for anything but road building and maintenance needs.

The question, which was on the ballot in 53 of the state's 72 counties, was: "Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?"

Ellis, president-elect of the state Senate, said lawmakers could have blocked the fund diversions. About $1.38 billion has been diverted from the transportation fund over the past eight years and applied to other uses to balance the general fund.

"All they've got to do is simply not do it," Ellis said. "Immediately next session the legislature ought to say to their constituents the highway fund ought to be off limits. And that would stop the bleeding."

The advisory referendum passed handily, with about seven of every 10 voters filing a "yes" nod, according to an informal tally by the Transportation Development Association, a Madison group.

Affirmative referendum margins ranged from a low of 61.5 percent in Trempealeau County to 85.1 percent in Dodge County.

Outcomes in four area counties by vote total and percentage are:

• Calumet: Yes, 10,559; No, 4,489; 70.2 percent in favor.
• Outagamie: Yes, 36,167; No, 16,039; 69.3 percent in favor.
• Waupaca: Yes, 10,653; No, 4,848; 68.8 percent in favor.
• Winnebago: Yes, 35,677; No, 14,959; 70.5 percent in favor.

Lack of state funding is one reason for the delay in upgrading a segment of Lynndale Drive (Outagamie County A) from two lanes to four lanes between Wisconsin and Northland avenues in Grand Chute, said Outagamie Highway Commissioner Al Geurts.

Winnebago County Highway Commissioner John Haese said funding lapses also hinder road maintenance.

"It's (impact) is seen in maintenance activities like crack sealing, chip sealing, maybe some asphalt overlays, shoulder repairs," he said. "If not for (the diversion of money) you would see a lot more mowing done on the state highway as well as the county system."

State lawmakers face increased pressure next session to end raids on the state transportation fund. Voters in 53 Wisconsin counties on Tuesday overwhelmingly approved advisory referendum questions on ending the practice of using money from the state’s road building fund to balance the budget.

Racine County also approved a similar referendum question during the September primary. Transportation Development Association director Craig Thompson says the measures passed in every county where it was on the ballot, with an average of 70-percent of the vote.

Recent state budgets have taken money out of the transportation fund, which is fueled by gas taxes, in order to fund other programs and spending. Thompson says they’ll be pushing lawmakers to take up the issue, and are hoping a state Constitutional Amendment can be introduced this spring. The measure would have to pass two consecutive sessions of the Legislature before going to voters for final approval.

Yesterday’s election results show that voters overwhelmingly favor amending the Wisconsin constitution to provide protection for the state’s transportation fund. An advisory referendum was on the general election ballot in 53 counties and had previously passed by a three-to-one margin in the Racine County primary election. In yesterday’s election, the referendum passed by margins that ranged from 61.5 percent in Trempealeau County to 85.1 percent in Dodge County, with an average in excess of 70 percent.

“We are not surprised by these results. They reflect what we have been hearing from people in every corner of the state for a long time,” said Craig Thompson, executive director of the non-profit Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin. “Fifty-four county boards simply gave the people the opportunity to be heard on this issue, and they are sending a clear directive to the state legislature. They want transportation money to be used for transportation purposes and they believe amending the constitution is the best way to accomplish that.”

Thompson’s group is part of Finding Forward, a broad-based coalition that worked to get the referendum placed on the ballot in reaction to past transfers of more than $1.3 billion from the transportation fund to the general fund. Finding Forward’s grass roots efforts are supported by a diverse group of partners including private businesses, organized labor, regional planning interests, county and municipal officials, agricultural and housing organizations, and more.

Governor-elect Walker has already pledged not to raid the fund and has gone further and stated his support for a constitutional amendment to ensure these raids never happen again.

Yesterday the people spoke. Now, notes Thompson, it will be up to the state legislature to take action.

“Finding Forward will now turn its efforts toward passage of first consideration of the constitutional amendment”, said Thompson. “People are tired of talk. They want action. Passing this legislation early in the session would demonstrate that this new legislature is there to do the people’s business.”

For more information, visit www.FindingForwardWisconsin.org.

Brian Gray

Voters in 53 counties approved an advisory referendum Tuesday that will determine how the state uses money in its transportation budget.

The non-binding, statewide referendum called for the state to use money collected from gasoline taxes and vehicle registrations solely for the transportation fund. Under the referendum, the money from the transportation fund can't be transferred to other areas of the budget.

The referendum was listed on 53 county ballots and passed with about 70 percent of the vote, according to the group Finding Forward, which supported the referendum.

In Green County, the referendum passed by a vote of 7,392, about 68 percent, to 3,404, about 32 percent.

In Lafayette County, the referendum passed with about 63.5 percent of the vote.

The referendum, which would add an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution, was advisory only.

To amend the constitution, the Legislature will have to approve the amendment in the 2011-12 session; and then again in the 2013-14 session to enable the measure to go before voters once more in a state-wide vote.

The resolution stated that over the past decade, $1.2 billion from the state's transportation fund was used for other budget items. About $800 million from the fund was replaced, but that left a reduction of $400 million in the transportation fund, which is intended to be used for highways projects, highway repairs and bridges.

Voters say they want constitutional protection to safeguard fund
Finding Forward urges legislature to act

MADISON – Yesterday’s election results show that voters overwhelmingly favor amending the Wisconsin constitution to provide protection for the state’s transportation fund. An advisory referendum was on the general election ballot in 53 counties and had previously passed by a three-to-one margin in the Racine County primary election. In yesterday’s election, the referendum passed by margins that ranged from 61.5 percent in Trempealeau County to 85.1 percent in Dodge County, with an average in excess of 70 percent.

“We are not surprised by these results.  They reflect what we have been hearing from people in every corner of the state for a long time,” said Craig Thompson, executive director of the non-profit Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin. “Fifty-four county boards simply gave the people the opportunity to be heard on this issue, and they are sending a clear directive to the state legislature. They want transportation money to be used for transportation purposes and they believe amending the constitution is the best way to accomplish that.”

Thompson’s group is part of Finding Forward, a broad-based coalition that worked to get the referendum placed on the ballot in reaction to past transfers of more than $1.3 billion from the transportation fund to the general fund. Finding Forward’s grass roots efforts are supported by a diverse group of partners including private businesses, organized labor, regional planning interests, county and municipal officials, agricultural and housing organizations, and more.

Governor-elect Walker has already pledged not to raid the fund and has gone further and stated his support for a constitutional amendment to ensure these raids never happen again.

Yesterday the people spoke. Now, notes Thompson, it will be up to the state legislature to take action.

“Finding Forward will now turn its efforts toward passage of first consideration of the constitutional amendment”, said Thompson. “People are tired of talk. They want action.  Passing this legislation early in the session would demonstrate that this new legislature is there to do the people’s business.” 

For more information, visit www.FindingForwardWisconsin.org.

#   #   #

 Preliminary County Results (not official) 

Vote was only advisory

Voters who had the chance to express their view on a transportation referendum liked the idea of protecting road funds.

In all, 54 of the 72 County Boards put the advisory, non-binding question on the ballot. Backers said a 'yes' vote meant people want state government to keep funds designated for transportation for that use, instead of being transferred to pay for other parts of the state budget.

The specific question read: "Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?"

Gubernatorial candidates Tom Barrett and Scott Walker both promised during the campaign that they would not raid a fund used to build and repair roads across Wisconsin.

A true Constitutional referendum would require approval by successive sessions of the Legislature and then a statewide, binding referendum.

Residents in 15 Northeast Wisconsin counties had the item on their ballot. Each of them approved it. The total vote was 244,796 (71.5%) yes votes to 97,972 (28.5%) no votes. Statewide results have not been calculated by FOX 11 or the Associated Press.

Here are county-by-county results for this area:

Langlade County voters said a resounding no to future raids on the state transportation fund Tuesday.

By a tally of 4,786 in favor to 1,736 opposed, voters here supported an amendment to the state constitution that would prevent transportation funds from being used to fill gaps in the state's operating budget.

The measure appeared as a referendum in 53 of Wisconsin’s 72 counties. The Associated Press did not report statewide results.

According to the Legislative Fiscal Bureau, an estimated $1.2 billion has been transferred from the fund in less than a decade, largely to close state budget deficits. The transportation fund has borrowed to replace most of the money.

Supporters said protections are needed for counties and municipalities because they rely on general transportation aid from the state. Every time the state dips into the fund and shifts money to other programs or projects, local road maintenance and projects suffer the consequences.

The fund contains money collected from two sources: taxes that drivers pay at the gas pump and fees paid for vehicle registration. It has historically been segregated so that the people using the transportation system are the ones who pay for its upkeep.

The referendum will have no binding effect. It solely advises the state government to amend the state Constitution to protect the fund from further raids.

Clark, Marathon and Taylor county residents on Tuesday backed a referendum restricting raids on Wisconsin's segregated transportation fund.

Voters in 53 counties were asked "Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?"

The advisory referendum was approved in Marathon 26,949-12,470, Clark 4,836-2,109 and Taylor 4,328-1,542.

Money collected from gasoline taxes and vehicle registration fees go into the state's transportation fund, which is to be spent on transportation projects and road maintenance. Wisconsin's regular vehicle registration fees amount to $75 annually. Wisconsin's gas tax is 32.9 cents a gallon.

Often, however, the money gets borrowed from the fund for things such as budget shortfalls. The referendum would call for a stop to that practice.

Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan already have prohibitions on borrowing from their states' transportation funds.

The ballot measure is advisory and has no effect other than to advise state officials.

To actually add these words to the constitution, the Legislature would need to pass the measure in two consecutive sessions and voters would then have to approve the language.

MADISON — In addition to picking Wisconsin's next governor and senator on Tuesday, voters in 53 counties, including Brown County, will also decide a much more technical ballot question: Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?

"What it's asking is whether the public feels comfortable with the practices of taking money from the transportation fund, where our gas taxes and vehicle registration fees go, in order to balance the general fund's balance," said Todd Berry, president of the Wisconsin Taxpayers Alliance, a private research group.

Wisconsin's regular vehicle registration fees amount to $75 annually. Wisconsin's gas tax is 32.9 cents a gallon. Money from the gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees goes into a segregated transportation fund that is used for road maintenance and construction.

But Berry said that over the last 10 years the state has tapped about $1.3 billion of this money to balance the state's general fund. The transportation money has gone to support other things, like school aids.

Berry said the state has borrowed to make up for some of the shortfall in the transportation fund.

"We increased the amount of highway revenue bonding that was going on, and in a very real sense we borrowed, we issued highway bonds, to balance the general fund budget. Although you would have to connect a few dots to say that, but in the end, that's what we did," Berry said.

Tuesday's ballot measure is advisory; it has no effect other than to advise state officials.

To actually add these words to the constitution, the Legislature would need to pass the measure in two consecutive sessions and voters would then have to approve the language.

Local transportation officials and transportation groups have pushed for the ballot measure.

Berry said there's a long tradition in Wisconsin of county and local officials placing measures on the ballot to make a political point.

Al Geurts, president of the Wisconsin County Highway Association and Outagamie County highway commissioner, said his group backed the measure.

Geurts said he hopes the ballot question raises awareness of the issue.

"We, as transportation and county officials, feel it is very important that the public be allowed to speak out and tell us whether or not they want the gas taxes and vehicle registration fees used for other purposes or if they want to protect them like the other states are doing," Geurts said.

Both candidates for governor, Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett, a Democrat, and Milwaukee County Executive Scott Walker, a Republican, have said they would not tap the transportation fund for other purposes.

Geurts said the issue is important.

"Frankly, with all the raids that have taken place over the last 10 years we have not been able to keep up with the needs on the highway system," he said. "We have numerous projects which get identified and designed, but what we have seen as a growing and growing trend is those projects just continue to get shelved."

As an example, Geurts said a lack of state funding and state project mandates has caused the county to delay expansion of a section of Lynndale Drive between Wisconsin Avenue and Northland Avenue in Grand Chute.

Geurts said the two-lane stretch is dangerous and overcrowded at peak traffic times.

"We have capacity issues, crash issues on the county highway system," Geurts said. "We've identified and designed our way out of them, we just can't get these projects delivered because of the lack of funding out there in the transportation world in Wisconsin."

Winnebago County Highway Commissioner John Haese said that if the state keeps using transportation fund money for other purposes it will suffer.

"On the economic side, if you can't ship goods and services, and deliver things on time, the manufacturing sector, which drives a lot of the state's economy, (will suffer)," he said.

"When that system of roads that provides transportation not only for business but tourism and everything that goes along with the transportation system, there's going to be a definite negative impact to the state of Wisconsin."

Advisory question seeks amendment to constitution

Brian Gray

MONROE - When they go to the polls Tuesday, voters in Green and Lafayette counties will join residents across the state in deciding how Wisconsin funds transportation.

A non-binding, state-wide referendum to require Wisconsin to use money collected from gasoline taxes and vehicle registrations solely for the transportation fund will be on the ballot Tuesday.

The referendum, which would add an amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution, is advisory only.

The Green County Board of Supervisors and the Lafayette County Board of Supervisors approved resolutions in July in support of holding the referendum. The boards didn't indicate how people should vote -just that people should be able to vote.

To actually amend the constitution, the Legislature would have to approve the proposed amendment in the 2011-12 session; and then again in the 2013-14 session, enabling the measure to once more go before state voters.

The resolution passed by the Green County board was written by the Wisconsin Counties Association, which also supports the amendment.

At issue is the shifting of funds out of the transportation budget. The resolution states that over the past decade, $1.2 billion from the state's transportation fund was used for other things. About $800 million was replaced by the legislature, but that still left $400 million less in the fund, which is intended for highway projects, repairs and bridges.

Lafayette County Highway Commission Tom Jean supports the referendum.

"All of the sudden, you don't have enough money for road repairs and even mowing along the roads," Jean said. "Money from the gas tax should stay in the transportation fund."

Jean said he didn't know why the Legislature diverted money from the fund.

"I guess they started doing it because they can," he said. "It's a fund they can take money from."

Harvey Mandel, Green County Board of Supervisors vice chairman, also supports keeping the transportation fund separate.

"If they don't need the money for the roads, then why are they taking so much in the first place?" he asked.

Rep. Brett Davis, R-Oregon, said the state is neglecting highway infrastructure.

The fund has been "raided significantly" over the past eight years, Davis said. "The state has to live within its means," he added.

Rep. Steve Hilgenberg, D-Mineral Point, who opposes the referendum, said he understands people are frustrated when transportation funds are diverted elsewhere. However, Hilgenberg's concerned a constitutional amendment would cause other problems if the state needed the money for an emergency, such as educational funding.

"I would say that the word 'raid' to describe using the money isn't a good word," he said. "The money is replaced."

His biggest concern about a state constitutional amendment is that it takes away decisions that should be made by the Legislature and the governor.

"They're sent to Madison to make those decisions," he said.

By Cara Spoto • Journal staff

When Portage County voters head to the polls Tuesday, they'll be asked about more than candidates they prefer. They'll also be asked a question:

Should Wisconsin's Constitution prohibit the Legislature from raiding the state transportation fund?

The Portage County Board voted during the summer to put the question to voters on the November ballot, joining 52 other Wisconsin counties.

The counties acted with a push from the Finding Forward Coalition, a nonpartisan group of organizations alarmed by raids on the transportation fund in recent budget cycles.

The transportation fund, fed by state gasoline taxes, vehicle registration fees and federal aid, is supposed to be used solely for transportation projects. In recent years, however, money from the fund has been used to cover budget shortfalls. So far, the state has diverted about $1.3 billion from the fund.

The issue has gained traction, said Craig Thompson, executive director of the Finding Forward Coalition. In Racine County, where the same referendum question was on the ballot for last month's primary, people voted 18,748 to 6,676 in support of a constitutional ban. Other states, including Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan, already have protected their transportation funds, according to the coalition.

Although an advisory referendum can't force the Legislature to do anything, Stan Potocki, a member of the County Board Highway Committee that recommended the question be put to voters, has said the hope is that enough voters back the proposal for Madison to change its ways.

County Board Chairman Phil Idsvoog agrees.

"The Legislature makes its own rules, and then they break them all the time," Idsvoog said Thursday. "They ought to start speaking the truth and getting rid of their hypocrisies and contradictions. I hope (this referendum) impacts them, and I hope they start behaving accordingly."

-- Gannett Wisconsin Media reporter Karina Gonzalez contributed to this report.

But in recent years, the legislature has used those funds to balance the state books.

Lawmakers have been using the money for other non transportation related purposes.

In the upcoming elections, fifty-four counties including La Crosse will vote on whether or not to recommend changes to the state's constitution, clarifying the use of the transportation fund.

Supporters say over half of the fifty states already spell out the use of segregated funds.

"Twenty-eight other states in the country have language in their constitution prohibiting the legislature from using user fees for other purposes, and we think Wisconsin should too," Transportation Development Association's Craig Thompson said. "Simply passing a law would not bind the legislature from doing it, only a constitutional amendment would do that."

Some opponents say the amendment is misguided. The last several years the state ended up with a budget deficit.

And given the choice between pulling money away from transportation and funding schools for instance, opponents say lawmakers need the flexibility to refocus their budget priorities.

In an interesting note, Racine County already voted on the issue in the September primaries.

74 percent voted in favor of the referendum.

The advisory referendum will be on the ballot in many counties this election day.

Advisory votes should be passed.

ROCK COUNTY VOTERS will be asked two questions on Tuesday’s ballot:

• One involves a state issue. It asks if the Wisconsin Constitution should be amended “to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?”
• The other is an advisory vote on a Rock County issue, asking if the county should “replace the existing elected office of coroner with a county appointed medical examiner system, effective January 2015?”

THE DAILY NEWS recommends a “yes” vote on both issues.

Politicians can’t resist the temptation to rob a segregated fund to artificially balance the state’s operating budget, yet another in the series of one-time budget fixes that helped drive Wisconsin finances into a hole. That creates two serious problems. First, money intended to keep highway systems in good order isn’t there when needed. And, second, it allows politicians to spend and spend while avoiding the hard decisions necessary for Wisconsin to live within its means. A “yes” vote is a no-brainer for taxpayers.

This newspaper has been on record for years favoring an appointed medical examiner, so qualified individuals can be recruited and hired for the job. Take the politics out of this service position and bring it to a higher level of

By: By Judy Wiff, New Richmond News

Voters in Pierce, St. Croix and 51 other counties will be asked to vote Nov. 2 on an advisory referendum suggesting Wisconsin make it unconstitutional to use its transportation fund for other purposes.

Money in the fund comes from the gas tax consumers pay at the pump and from vehicle registration fees. Taxpayers expect this money will be used to make their roads safer, yet in less than a decade the state has diverted more than $1.3 billion to pay for other things, say referendum supporters.

Lack of funding is causing counties to fall farther and farther behind on road repair projects, jeopardizing the safety of highways and multiplying the cost for the future, said St. Croix County Highway Commissioner Tim Ramberg and Pierce County Highway Commissioner Chad Johnson.

“If the money continues to be diverted, then there’s less for transportation,” said Johnson, who urged the county board to put the issue to voters.

“Every year we should be reconstructing five miles of road because a road bed lasts 50 years,” he said. “We’re hardly touching that.”

“You don’t know it unless you’re right out in it,” said Ramberg, who has worked for the highway department for 21 years. He compared regular repaving to re-shingling a house and chip sealing to changing oil in a car. Delaying that maintenance is a mistake, he said.

In 2009 St. Croix paved 9.9 miles of road, or 70 percent of its goal, and constructed 5.7 miles, or 81 percent of the goal, said Ramberg.

State road aids to counties are a percentage of eligible expenses. While that percentage should have been 30 percent, in 2009 it was 22.2 percent, said Ramberg. For 2010, the percentage dropped a little more.

“It keeps shrinking because the pot is shrinking,” said Ramberg.

He said his department doesn’t cut its winter maintenance budget or costs related to other safety issues, but instead is forced to back off repair and construction projects.

Johnson figured that in the last few years, Pierce County has fallen $19 million short of keeping its road repair schedule.

While adoption of the referendum, which asks the Legislature to consider a constitutional amendment, won’t be an immediate fix, it will stop the leak of money intended for road work, said Johnson.

“(The money) is intended for transportation, and it’s a segregated fund,” agreed Ramberg. He said the change would “put the trust back in ‘trust fund.’”

In recent years Americans have been driving less, thus reducing gas tax income and transportation revenues.

Despite that, said Ramberg, state elected officials have diverted money to other budget areas.

He pointed to reports that show $1.3 billion has been diverted since 2003. More than $850 million of that was replaced with borrowed money, but the net loss to the transportation fund was more than $435 million.

Because the state government has failed to respect the objectives of the transportation fund, the public and federal legislators no longer trust that gas taxes will be used appropriately, said Ramberg.

The referendum, even if adopted by all the counties that are voting on it, is simply advisory. An amendment to the Wisconsin Constitution must pass two separate sessions of the same Legislature before going on a ballot statewide for voter approval.

On Nov. 2, voters in this county and 52 other counties across the state will have a chance to say 'yes or 'no' to the following question: "Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?" I believe the best answer to this question is 'yes'.

Money in the transportation fund comes mostly from the gas tax we all pay at the pump and from vehicle registration fees. It is supposed to be used to fund transportation programs and projects. Yet in recent years some $1.3 billion has been diverted from the transportation fund to the state's general fund in an attempt to "balance" Wisconsin's overall budget. The results have not been pretty. The state's general fund is facing a yet another shortfall. Transportation infrastructure vital to industry, agriculture, tourism and other sectors of our economy has been underfunded. And the state's bond rating has suffered a serious hit, because this type of borrowing from Peter to pay Paul is not seen as sound fiscal policy by national rating institutions.

While I don't take amending our state's constitution lightly — and I don't know anyone who would — it is the best way to make sure transportation money will be used for transportation programs. So I urge you to vote 'yes' on the transportation fund advisory referendum and send a message to legislators in Madison that you want Wisconsin to return to responsible budgeting practices and protect the transportation fund.

Todd Van Zeeland
Van Zeeland Oil Co. Inc.
Fox Convenience, Oshkosh

One of the easiest votes on Nov. 2 should be a "yes" on the advisory referendum on to prevent

The referendum question will be on the ballot in 53 of the state's 72 counties, including Sheboygan County. It says: "Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?"

Gov. Jim Doyle shifted $1.3 billion from the fund that pays for road building and maintenance to cover the state's school costs to balance his budget. The Republican-controlled Legislature in 2003 approved some $800 million in fund transfers, so both political parties are guilty of pulling budget shenanigans.

But fund transfers such as this only delay tough budget decisions and do not really give the state a balanced budget.

A resounding "yes" vote from state residents will send a clear message to future governors and lawmakers that segregated funds in the state budget should be "hands off." If it takes a constitutional amendment to protect segregated funds, so be it.

This midterm election, some Wisconsin residents will have a chance to vote on more than just candidates. Some ballots will include an advisory referendum, on how to pay for road work.

On Tuesday, residents in the majority of Wisconsin counties, including Douglas, Ashland, Bayfield and Iron, will see a question about transportation funding on their ballots.

It will ask: should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?

But what will residents actually be voting for when they shade yes or no?

According to the Douglas County Clerk, a yes vote indicates you support a constitutional amendment to prohibit using transportation fees for any purpose other than transportation. A no vote indicates you are happy with the way things are now. Douglas county hopes their residents weigh in.

"Having a robust and efficient transportation is very important for economic development," said Andy Lisak. "We see it up here in Superior in particular with our transportation hub."

Lisak said if transportation continues to go elsewhere money for projects like the current one in Billings Park will be harder to come by.

"They're [state government] going to face a $3 billion budget cap and a lot of entities out here in Wisconsin are afraid with that budget gap they're going to look to a transportation fund to help fill that gap," said Lisak.

Since 2003 the state has taken $1.3 billion from the fund to balance the state budget. But Tuesday's vote wouldn't stop that practice. Instead, supporters said checking "yes" would send a message to state legislators that the law should be changed.

"Transportation is very important up here in Douglas County," said Lisak. "We are a transportation hub that is internationally recognized."

Both of Wisconsin's gubernatorial candidate's have said they don't plan on using transportation funds to balance any budget shortfalls.

Voters asked transportation fund question

Reporter: Becky DeVries

In just days, polls will be open and voters will be officially weighing in on who they want in a number of offices throughout the state.

There is one question that will be on most ballots throughout northeast Wisconsin, with the exception of three counties. That question might be a little difficult to understand, but has to do with how the government spends your money.

You've seen the signs, the ads, and the candidates, but one issue that has not been in the spotlight much is a referendum question, appearing on many ballots throughout Wisconsin.

The question reads: "Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?"

It's not exactly water cooler conversation, but it's asking about how you want your tax dollars spent.

For example, when you go to the gas station, part of the tax you pay goes to the state transportation fund. That fund helps pay for things like roads and work on the Highway 41 construction project. So in simpler language, the referendum is asking: Do you support a constitutional amendment saying money in the transportation fund, must be spent on transportation projects?

If you vote "no" you're saying it's OK to use the transportation fund for other purposes. And if you vote "yes," then you're saying, "What's earmarked for transportation stays in transportation once and for all. And of course the legislature has to approve that in two separate sessions and then it goes back to the voters," explained Paul Jadin, president of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce.

The Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce partners with an organization called Finding Forward. Finding Forward is a non-partisan organization, providing county clerks with information on the referendum.

I just hope that everyone goes to the polls and after trying to understand all of the other races on the ballots after all of the commercials they've seen over the last few months, that they will take the time to understand and appreciate what's happening with this referendum as well," said Jadin.

The question is an advisory referendum only, a very first step in a process that has the potential to amend the state constitution.

Each county board decided if the question would appear on its ballot.

Jadin says the question is on many ballots because a few years ago state government used money from the transportation fund for other purposes.

La Crosse County voters will have an advisory referendum question to answer on Tuesday's ballot.

This one asks, "Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?"

County officials say in less than a decade, more than one billion dollars has been taken out of the transportation fund to fill shortfalls in the state's general fund.

The money in the transportation funds comes mostly from the gas tax that residents pay at the pump and from vehicle registration fees.

County officials say taking money out of the fund isn't fixing problems, it's creating new ones. "In 2010, we had a 10 percent reduction and for next year it looks like another couple percent that we'll be reduced just on the maintenance end of it. People in La Crosse County, they drive the roads every day. You won't see a lot of improvement projects going on in La Crosse County. I think we're seeing the effects of less money in the transportation fund," says La Crosse Co. Highway Commissioner Dennis Osgood.

Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan protect their transportation funds with a constitutional provision.

By Erik Bilstad with Jay Sorgi

MILWAUKEE - Newsradio 620 WTMJ posed six questions to Democrat Tom Barrett and Republican Scott Walker. We gave each candidate the questions in advance and asked them to formulate 60 second answers that include specifics we can track during their term in office.

Each weekday leading up to the election we'll play you each major gubernatorial candidate's answer to another question at 7:34 on Wisconsin's Morning News and 3:34 on the Greenhouse.

Question Four:

Governor Doyle has taken money from the transportation fund and other segregated funds to balance the budget. Will you take money out of segregated funds like the transportation fund? If you do not intend to use segregated funds, what specific taxes would you raise or what specifically would you cut to make up the difference from funding the Governor has used that would no longer be available to balance your budget?

Transcript of response from Barrett:

"It was both Governor Doyle and the Republican legislature who took money from the transportation fund and other segregated funds to balance the budget.

"I will not take money out of the transportation fund, I think that is wrong and I support the Constitutional amendment to make sure that does not happen.

"Again, I do not intend to use segregated funds, and I think the question is, we have to bring back the transportation committee that looks at these highway projects and prioritize.

"That hasn't happened in (the) recent past. It has become more of a political fight to get these transportation projects done.

"We have to have some rational thinking as to what our priorities are. There are not unlimited dollars and we have to decide what are the most pressing priorities.

"If we do that, if we prioritize, we will be able to make sure that our transportation needs are met and that is certainly my priority because it creates jobs and it allows people to improve commerce throughout the state of Wisconsin."

Transcript of response from Walker

"Transportation is a major important issue in this state, not just because of getting around the state, but because it ties into economic development.

"If you're a dairy farmer in Eau Claire and need to get product in, if you're someone who runs a tourist establishment up in Minoqua or Woodruff, if you're someone who depends on manufacturing around the state we've got to have great roads and bridges.

"As governor, I'm going to stop doing what Jim Doyle has done in the past, that's raiding the transportation fund.

"We're going to take it a step further and actually supporter a Constitutional amendment and guarantee that no future governor is able to do what Jim Doyle did.

"And then long term, to put more money back into that fund, without raising taxes to do that, we're going to do what I proposed in the legislature years ago, and that is starting to phase in the existing sales tax that's collected in automobile related purchases, and put that into the transportation fund.

"It's been done in many other states across the country.

"It's a great way of moving forward with the growth in that area, and it still puts more of our resources into fixing our roads and our bridges.

"It's also why I'm blocking the train. That money belongs in fixing our roads and bridges and not in the train."

By Ann Marie Ames

Voters in Rock and 52 other counties in November will cast ballots to share their opinions about the use of Wisconsin’s segregated transportation fund.

The Finding Forward Coalition, an advocacy group comprising transportation, business and municipal interest groups, has been pushing the ballot measure in counties across the state.

The question will ask voters if they support an amendment to the state constitution that would prevent transportation funds from being used to fill gaps in the state’s operating budget.

Assistant County Administrator Phil Boutwell has told the Gazette the measure appeals to counties and municipalities because they rely on general transportation aid from the state. When the state takes money out of the transportation fund and shifts it to other programs or projects, less money is available for local road maintenance and projects for municipalities, Boutwell said.

The issue is especially relevant to Rock County, given the proposed expansion of Interstate 90/39. While federal funding is estimated to cover 40 to 50 percent of the $1 billion project, the rest would come from the state transportation fund.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that $1.2 billion has been shifted from the fund in the last decade. That money was replaced with $800 million in general obligation bonds.

Here are some questions and answers about the question from Finding Forward.

Q: What is the referendum question?

A: Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?

Q: What is the transportation fund?

A: The fund contains money collected from two sources: taxes that drivers pay at the gas pump and fees paid for vehicle registration. The fund has historically been segregated so that the people using the transportation system are the ones who pay for its upkeep.

Q: What would a “yes” vote mean?

A:It would mean you are in favor of adding language to the Wisconsin Constitution that would insure money collected from transportation users is spend only for transportation projects.

Q: Will a “yes” vote change the Wisconsin Constitution?

A: No. The referendum is only advisory

Q: How is the constitution changed?

A: The Legislature needs to approve a change in two consecutive sessions, and then voters need to approve the change. The earliest that could happen is 2013.

Q: Do other states do this?

A: The majority of states already have language in their constitutions that prohibits spending funds for non-transportation purposes.

By Karina Gonzalez

MERRILL -- Voters in Lincoln, Marathon and Portage counties will face an advisory referendum question on Nov. 2 ballots asking whether it should be unconstitutional to use state transportation money for other purposes.

Fifty-three of the state's 72 counties will put the question to voters. Lincoln County leaders said local road projects have suffered because the state has diverted $1.3 billion from transportation funds to fill state general-fund shortfalls.

"The roads are a main problem here," said Lincoln County Board Chairman Robert Lussow of the town of Bradley. The county has fallen behind on road renovations and maintenance, officials said

The state transportation fund collects money from a gasoline tax and vehicle registration fees. The fund also receives federal money.

Craig Thompson, executive director for the Finding Forward Coalition, said the nonpartisan group began pushing for the initiative since forming in May.

"The roads were really hurting," Thompson said. "We found that the public was upset about this, too."

With elections this year, the group wants candidates to get the message.

"With the new governor and new Legislature in office, we can talk about the future," Thompson said.

The issue already has gained traction, he said. In Racine County, where leaders placed the same referendum on the primary election ballot last month, the majority of voters answered "yes." Other states including Minnesota, Iowa and Michigan already have protected their transportation funds, according to the coalition.

Even if voters here agree and approve the referendum, lawmakers can continue to divert transportation money.

"The impact is simply symbolic," said Ed Miller, a political science professor at University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point.

Wisconsin law does not provide for a binding statewide referendum like those in states such as California and Florida.

And both political parties here have taken money from various funds to fill gaps, Miller said.

Most recently, Gov. Jim Doyle took money from a patient compensation fund and another fund for university renovations to balance the general fund, Miller said.

"That group (Finding Forward Coalition) has this initiative," he said. "But others have issues with their funds."

Most of the state's voters, including 14 counties in our area, will have the chance to tell lawmakers whether they think the raiding of a pool of transportation dollars should be abolished.

It's because the Transportation Development Association and the Finding Forward Coalition asked counties to include the advisory referendum on their ballots.

More than 50, including Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties, approved the measure.

The question asks whether voters think the state constitution should be amended to ban raiding of the segregated transportation fund in the future.

The Transportation Development Association and finding forward coalition went around asking counties if they'd put the question on their ballots in November.

“People in the state want their transportation dollars spent on transportation,” said Craig Thompson of the Transportation Development Association.

Some of that money goes toward road improvements, like the work on Spooner Avenue in Altoona.

Eau Claire County is among the counties that decided to have the question on its ballots.

“We think it's appropriate to provide the public an opportunity to have input on this major public policy issue,” said Eau Claire County Board Chair Gregg Moore.

"It's a big issue, because we have in this state been, for almost a decade now, struggling with a structural deficit,” Political Analyst John Frank said. “They have been trying to find all kinds of creative ways to deal with that structural deficit to make sure that programs are fully-funded without having to raise taxes.”

Thompson says nine counties, including Dunn and Buffalo Counties, instead approved resolutions that ask the state to stop raiding the fund for other purposes.

"We're appreciative that the board passed the resolution,” Thompson said. “We do believe it's more effective when a county board actually gives all of the voters in the county the chance to be heard on the issue.”

The county board chairs in Buffalo and Dunn Counties were not available to comment on-camera for this story.

For the state to actually amend the constitution, the next legislature would have to pass a proposal in two separate votes, and voters would have to pass a binding referendum by simple majority, which could happen in the year 2013.

Voters in 53 counties have a chance Nov. 2 to send Madison legislators a strong message on transportation funding. They should do so.

The two gubernatorial candidates promised this week that as governor they would not raid the state's transportation fund for non-transportation spending and that they backed a state constitutional amendment that would prevent such raids.

Voters in 53 of the state's 72 counties can - and should - join the candidates in that support when they go to the polls on Nov. 2. In those counties on election day, there will be an advisory referendum asking a simple question or variation thereof: "Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?"

The vote should be "yes."

The administration of Gov. Jim Doyle became notorious for raiding the fund to help balance the budget. Admittedly, balancing the budget in recent years became a tough task, and Doyle was trying to find a balance between cutting education aid and raising taxes. But raiding other funds, and specifically the transportation fund, was not the best way to achieve that balance.

Doyle shifted $1.3 billion from the transportation fund to the general fund. But he didn't make the raids alone. Republicans who controlled the Legislature during his first term signed off on more than $800 million of the transfers. Doyle said he took care of both education and transportation with his budgets and that the transfers were needed to prevent deep cuts in schools. Borrowing was used to cover most of the money that was taken.

But as Waukesha County Executive Dan Vrakas argued in an op-ed in the Journal Sentinel this week, the raids hurt the transportation fund's integrity and created more distrust among Wisconsin taxpayers. Most of the fund's revenue comes from the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. Its purpose is to improve and build the transportation infrastructure that is vital to the state's economy.

As Vrakas pointed out, "there is a disconnect between the purpose of the dollars, touted as a user fee, and the purposes in which they are currently used."

Granted, the referendum is only advisory, and it isn't on every county's ballot - Milwaukee is among the missing, which is shortsighted. But if voters resoundingly support the referendum, they'll be sending a strong message to Madison. They should do so.

Rachel Wittrock, Regional Reporter

Fifty-three of the 72 Wisconsin counties have voted to put a transportation referendum on the county general election ballots this November.

The referendum, which will not be on Dane County ballots, reads: “Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?”

Roughly $1.7 billion goes into the segregated transportation fund every year from taxes paid at the gas pump and vehicle registration fees. The transportation fund is used for all modes of transportation, from transit to snowplow operations to highway construction and maintenance.

According to Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin Executive Director Craig Thompson, the issue is an urgent one because Governor Jim Doyle and the state Legislature have diverted more than $1 billion from the transportation fund to the general fund since 2002.

“There have always been transfers out of the transportation fund for other purposes,” Wisconsin County Highway Association Executive Director Dan Fedderly said. “With less funds available and significantly higher amounts transferred for other purposes, it puts it in a much more precarious position.”

Fedderly said roughly $170 million is needed to perform snowplow operations statewide, but current funding is $120 million.

“Counties reduce the work that should be done to avoid long-term rehabilitation and constructions,” he said. “They eliminate system preservation activities so they can provide essential services like snowplowing.”

“A good highway program has a number of roads they do work on over time,” Wisconsin Towns Association Executive Director Richard Stadelman said. “If you don’t have the funds, you start cutting back, and over a period of time the roads deteriorate faster.”

Jerry Mandli, the public works director for Dane County, said because the state contracts with counties for maintenance on the state trunk highway system, the decrease in available funds means routine highway maintenance has taken a hit. Counties are instead focusing on essential items, such as drainage issues in bridges and concrete blow-ups.

Thompson said borrowing has created a deficit in the transportation fund and a backlog of both roads and transit systems in the state.

“Not only has this not solved Wisconsin’s financial problems, it has lowered Wisconsin’s national bond rating and created a vicious cycle of borrowing that has left the general fund worse off and created an even larger budget shortfall,” Thompson said.

“We either have the second or the third worst bond rating in the country for general obligation bonds,” he added.

Thompson said $800 million was borrowed out of the general fund to partially replace the $1.2 billion borrowed from the transportation fund.

According to Stadelman, the transportation fund isn’t the only place fees have been borrowed from in an effort to balance the state budget. He said solid waste tipping fees were increased from $5.90 to $13 a ton last year - and the increased portion did not remain in the solid waste fund.

The referendum is only advisory, but voting “yes” will let elected representatives know their constituents would support legislation to protect the transportation fund against being used for other purposes.

In order to protect the transportation fund, language will need to be added to the Wisconsin Constitution. Since two consecutive state legislative sessions would need to pass a bill changing the constitution, the earliest it could be amended is 2014. If state legislation passed a bill, it would still need to be voted on in a binding statewide referendum.

According to Dane County Board Chair Scott McDonell, none of the Dane County supervisors introduced a resolution for the transportation referendum to the board. McDonell said the board is worried about having adequate money for road maintenance from the state, but they are also struggling with Human Services cuts.

Counties that will have the transportation referendum question on the general election ballots include: Adams, Ashland, Barron, Bayfield, Brown, Burnett, Calumet, Chippewa, Clark, Columbia, Crawford, Dodge, Door, Douglas, Eau Claire; Forest, Green, Green Lake, Grant, Iron, Jackson, Juneau, Kewaunee, La Crosse, Lafayette, Langlade, Lincoln, Manitowoc, Marathon, Marquette, Menominee, Monroe, Oneida, Outagamie, Ozaukee, Pierce, Pepin, Polk, Portage, Price, Richland, Rock, Shawano, Sheboygan, St. Croix, Taylor, Trempealeau, Vernon, Vilas, Waukesha, Waupaca, Waushara and Winnebago.

Racine County placed the referendum question on their September primary ballot, and almost 75 percent of people voted yes.

By Sarah Thomsen

When you head to the polls on November 2nd, there's one item on the ballot you may not know much about.

On ballots in the majority of Wisconsin counties, voters will be asked a "yes" or "no" question:

Should the Wisconsin constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?

In other words, you want to stop lawmakers from taking money from the transportation fund to use for other things, such as balancing the budget?

"A 'yes' vote would send the message to our elected officials that we do not want them using transportation revenues for non-transportation purposes," Craig Thompson, executive director of the Transportation Development Association, said.

The non-profit, non-partisan group "Finding Forward" and the Transportation Development Association helped put the question on this fall's ballot.

They cite a crumbling infrastructure that can't be fixed when money is consistently taken from that fund.

"Our infrastructure's aging, our interstate system turned 50, and we certainly have a lot of needs in this state, and we can't continue to keep raiding from the fund when we have those other needs," Thompson said.

Most of the money in the fund comes from gas taxes and vehicle registration fees.

TDA says in the last eight years the State has borrowed $1.3 billion from the fund.

Tuesday, the idea of stopping that practice earned support from both men running for governor.

"I support the amendment to stop the raids," Democrat Tom Barrett said. "But I don't need it," he added. "I'm going to end it now."

"As governor, I will not tap the transportation fund," Republican Scott Walker said. "I will keep it solely for the segregated purpose it's there for."

A majority of states already ban the transfer of transportation funds.

Thompson said, "We have found that states that don't have constitutional protection face some of the same problems that Wisconsin is facing now."

Even if voters pass this advisory referendum in November, the Legislature will have to pass a joint resolution in two consecutive terms, then it would go back to voters again, likely in late 2013.

When voters head to the polls in Douglas County on Nov. 2, they’ll have a chance to weigh in on the raiding of segregated funds that pay for transportation infrastructure in Wisconsin.

When voters head to the polls in Douglas County on Nov. 2, they’ll have a chance to weigh in on the raiding of segregated funds that pay for transportation infrastructure in Wisconsin.

Finding Forward, a nonpartisan, grassroots coalition, has answered some frequently asked questions about the transportation referendum.

Q: What is the exact wording of the referendum question?

A: Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?

Q: Why is it called the segregated transportation fund?

A: Money in the fund comes mostly from two sources directly related to transportation: The taxes you pay at the gas pump and fees you pay for vehicle registration. These user fees, historically, were placed in a “segregated” fund so users of the transportation system pay for the upkeep.

Q: What will my “yes” vote mean?

A: It will mean you are in favor of adding language to the Wisconsin Constitution that would make sure money collected from transportation users is spent only to maintain or improve Wisconsin’s transportation system.

Q: Will a “yes” vote change the Wisconsin Constitution?

A: No. The referendum is only advisory; the outcome is not binding. Changing the constitution requires action by two successive sessions of the state legislature and then passage of a binding statewide referendum.

Q: If the referendum is only advisory, why does a “yes” vote matter?

A: A vote of “yes” matters, because it tells your elected representatives that you want the transportation fund to be protected against other uses and that you would support legislation to add language saying so to the state’s constitution.

Q: Why is this issue so urgent?

A: In recent years, lawmakers have diverted or transferred more than $1 billion from the transportation fund to try to shore up the state’s general fund. Not only has this not solved Wisconsin’s financial problems, it has lowered Wisconsin’s national bond rating and created a vicious circle of borrowing that has left the general fund worse off and created an even larger budget shortfall. Now the nonpartisan, nonprofit, grassroots coalition, Finding Forward, is urging people to vote “yes” to tell lawmakers the people of Wisconsin want to return to responsible budgeting and protect the transportation network that is vital to the state’s economy and quality of life.

Q: Do other states do this?

A: The majority of states already have language in their constitutions that specifically safeguard against transferring transportation funds for non-transportation purposes.

Q: What counties have the transportation referendum question on their general election ballots?

A: In November, the transportation referendum question will be on the general election ballots in 53 counties, including Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron and Vilas Counties in northern Wisconsin. In addition, the referendum question was placed on the September primary election ballot in Racine County where “yes” votes won by a substantial margin.

Q: Who belongs to Finding Forward?

A: The organization consists of 38 organizations that represent agriculture, commerce, construction, economic development, engineers, local government, motorists, planning organizations, transportation and unions.

For more information, including a list of Finding Forward’s members and counties considering the ballot question, visit www.FindingForwardWisconsin.org.

Voters across most of Wisconsin will get to send an important message to state leaders on Nov. 2: Stop raiding the state transportation fund for unrelated spending.

State leaders have taken about $1.2 billion in recent years from the state transportation fund.

Democratic Gov. Jim Doyle led the misguided raids. Yet plenty of state lawmakers from both major political parties went along with part if not most of the plunder.

To try to make up for that loss in funding for critical road projects, state leaders have borrowed about $800 million. That leaves a $400 million short-term loss with deeper long-term debt.

It’s an unsustainable path.

It’s also a broken promise.

Most of the state’s transportation dollars come directly from motorists through gas taxes and vehicle registration fees. These funds are supposed to be used only for the benefit of Wisconsin’s transportation system — for roads and bridges and other efforts to help move people where they need to go. Motorists shouldn’t be singled out for higher fees to subsidize public schools and other state spending programs unrelated to transportation.

Ideally, the Legislature would allow Wisconsin voters to protect all user fees from misuse with a constitutional amendment. Because the Legislature hasn’t yet allowed such a vote, most counties have placed a question on ballots this fall to highlight the road issue and show popular support, even though the referendums will merely be advisory.

In south-central Wisconsin, participating counties include Adams, Columbia, Crawford, Dodge, Green, Juneau, Marquette, Richland and Rock — though not Dane.

Racine County held its advisory referendum on protecting the transportation fund last month. Voters approved it by a nearly 3-1 margin.

User fees are supposed to collect money from users to pay for what they use. That way, the people who benefit from a service pay for more of its cost.

Raids on the transportation fund force motorists to subsidize other parts of the state budget having little if anything to do with transportation.

Tell your state leaders that the raids need to end by voting “yes.”

Gubernatorial Candidates Agree, Disagree On Future Of Transportation

MADISON, Wis. -- Gubernatorial candidates Tom Barrett and Scott Walker are both promising state transportation leaders that they will not raid a fund used to build and repair roads across Wisconsin.

Walker and Barrett also spoke out at Tuesday's meeting of the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin in support of passing a constitutional amendment to make it illegal to raid the state's transportation fund as was done under Gov. Jim Doyle's administration.

"We got to make sure they're expanding lanes from the state line not just through Madison, but all the way up to (Wisconsin) Dells, because whether it's manufacturing, whether it's agriculture, whether it's tourism, having a strong transportation system makes a difference," Walker said.

"With the transportation this state is facing and with infrastructure needs that this state is facing, how could (Walker) possibly manage this state when he has led Milwaukee County to the brink of bankruptcy the last eight years?" Barrett said.

The group represents more than 400 transportation-related organizations.

Both candidates also support restarting the Transportation Projects Commission, which was meeting for the first time in eight years on Tuesday. The group prioritizes transportation projects for the Legislature and governor to consider.

The two gubernatorial candidates; however, do not agree on the future of high-speed-rail. Walker opposes spending $810 million in federal stimulus money to build a rail line between Madison and Milwaukee. He said the state can't afford the operating cost of the line, which is estimated to be around $7.5 million.

Barrett supports the train, pointing out that it's estimated to create about 5,500 construction jobs.

Meanwhile, the republican messages will soon get a boost from an influx of money. A national group working to elect Republicans to state government positions plans to pump $1 million into Wisconsin's legislative races.

The Republican State Leadership Committee works to elect GOP candidates to attorney general, lieutenant governor, secretary of state and legislative posts.

Committee spokesman Adam Temple said the group will put $1 million into television ads for Wisconsin's legislative races. He said the group already has bought air time for ads against state Senate Majority Leader Russ Decker, a Weston Democrat.

Wisconsin Democratic Party spokesman Graeme Zielinski said the Republican committee wants to buy the legislative elections for corporate interests.

By Scott Bauer • The Associated Press

MADISON — Gubernatorial candidates Tom Barrett and Scott Walker both promised state transportation leaders on Tuesday that they will not raid a fund used to build and repair roads across Wisconsin.

Walker and Barrett also said they would support passing a constitutional amendment to make it illegal to raid the state’s transportation fund as was done under Gov. Jim Doyle.

The candidates spoke separately at the annual meeting of the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin. The nonprofit association represents more than 400 transportation-related organizations across the state.

They said addressing the state’s transportation needs and making sure there was money to pay for them would be a top priority.

“There are very few issues, if any, where I have felt there is more consternation or angst right now in the state of Wisconsin than in road construction,” said Barrett, the Democratic mayor of Milwaukee.

Passing a constitutional amendment to block transportation fund raids is being pushed by more than three dozen business and transportation groups, including the association hosting Tuesday’s meeting.

An advisory referendum calling for the amendment will be on the Nov. 2 ballot in 54 of the state’s 72 counties, according to the coalition’s website. Amending the state constitution requires approval from the Legislature after it comes back in session in January and then again in the 2013 session. Voters would then have to approve the change.

But Barrett and Walker both said they wouldn’t wait for that to happen and they would not propose taking money out of the fund to help balance the state’s projected $2.7 billion shortfall.

Since Doyle took office in 2003, about $1.3 billion has been taken from the transportation fund to help pay for schools, aid to local governments and other needs across the state. Lawmakers from both parties signed off on the transfers, all but $300 million of which was paid back.

“There’s bipartisan sin here,” Barrett said. “I think everyone in this state and everyone in this room should be aware of the fact there are unclean hands all over.”

Walker, a Republican who is Milwaukee County executive, called prior raids “unethical.”

There is pressure to pay for more major road projects in the coming years. The Transportation Projects Commission was also meeting Tuesday for the first time in eight years to consider recommending a $1 billion expansion of Interstate 39/90 by one lane in both directions between Madison and the Illinois border.

Both Walker and Barrett said they supported using the 14-member commission, which includes the governor, lawmakers, the state Transportation Department secretary and members of the public, to prioritize projects. They said that would remove some of the politics from the decision-making process.

Walker also said he wanted to expand the sources of income for the transportation fund to include sales taxes paid on automobile sales. The fund currently consists primarily of the state’s gas tax, vehicle registration fees and federal aid.

Walker also spoke of his support for creating optional toll lanes where drivers would pay more to share the road with car poolers and buses. Both Walker and Barrett have said in the past that they oppose toll roads for all drivers.

Neither of the candidates talked about the high-speed rail line to be built with $810 million in federal stimulus money between Madison and Milwaukee.

Barrett supports the project, noting that it is estimated to put 5,500 people to work over the next three years. But Walker opposes it, calling it a waste of money because it would only employ 55 people permanently and cost the state up to $7.5 million a year to run it.

(Also ran in the following media outlets: Appleton Post Crescent, La Crosse Tribune, Manitowoc  Herald Times, Rhinelander Daily News, todaysTMJ4.com Milwaukee, WIBA.com Madison, WKBT.com La Crosse)

By Dan Vrakas

On Nov. 2, voters in 53 counties can send a message to Madison: Stop raiding the state transportation fund to plug other areas of the state budget. Specifically, the following question will appear on ballots:

"Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?"

In other words, should all transportation fund dollars collected be used only to fund transportation projects?

I hope that you join me in voting "yes" for this advisory referendum.

Wisconsin's transportation fund has lost its integrity, and it is vital that the purpose of the fund and the trust of Wisconsin taxpayers is restored. The segregated transportation fund, which is mostly funded (90%) by the gas tax and vehicle registration fees, is intended to be used for transportation infrastructure building and improvements. Despite the intention of the fund, over the past decade the State of Wisconsin has transferred approximately $1.2 billion from the transportation fund to the state's general fund to fill the holes in the state budget and avoid making tough budget decisions. There is a disconnect between the purpose of the dollars, touted as a user fee, and the purposes in which they are currently used.

This practice must end. It is time to lock up these funds so that the segregated transportation fund is used for the purpose for which it is intended. We need to make sure that our government is transparent and honest with taxpayers. When people pay the gas tax or vehicle registration fee, they should be confident that their dollars are going to fund transportation projects.

Transportation infrastructure plays a key role in attracting and retaining businesses and producing jobs in the state and nationwide. Experience has shown that maintaining and expanding highways is key to economic development and public safety. Economic development and highway infrastructure always go hand in hand - a strong transportation infrastructure encourages development and attracts businesses to Wisconsin.

Most state constitutions include a provision preventing the raid of transportation funds; Wisconsin is one of only a handful of states still allowing this fiscally unsound practice to continue. It is time we send a message to Madison to amend the state constitution and restore fiscal integrity to our transportation budget.

Dan Vrakas is Waukesha County executive.

by Brian Moon

Be assured that the next governor will not to raid the transportation fund. The promise came from both gubernatorial candidates who addressed the Wisconsin Transportation Development Association this morning.

Both political parties have their “hands dirty” when it comes to dipping into the fund said Democrat Tom Barrett. Barrett cited Governor Doyle and the Republican legislature who four years ago began raiding the fund for non-transportation needs. He supports a constitutional amendment to prohibit such transfers. Barrett pledged that even if an amendment does not pass, he would not allow the activity as governor.

Republican Scott Walker also vowed not to touch the transportation fund which stems from vehicle registration fees and fuel taxes. Walker also proposed to look further into other sources for the fund as fuel efficiency is affecting how much the fund can accumulate.

Barrett plugged his plan which includes a “fix it first” of road repair rather than expansion projects. He said these projects are shovel ready and would instantly create jobs.

Walker’s plan for the roads includes expansions. He cited trips on his Harley from his Wauwatosa home to the Wausau-area, which is now easier due to the revamped Highway 10. Walker mentioned the long term economic benefits of expansion like agricultural producers and manufacturers being able to move their products around, as well as tourism.

The comments came hours before a key state transportation panel met for the first time in eight years. During his speech, Barrett said he won’t wait eight weeks after being sworn in for the Transportation Projects Commission to gather. He said an active commission with credibility can help prevent lawmakers from slipping pet projects into budget proposals.

Walker also believes the panel needs a stronger role in the next administration. “These are the people who should be making the transportation priorities for the state of Wisconsin. The governor and the legislature should be talking about where those resources will come from,” he told reporters.

The panel later recommended four road projects including the expansion of I-39/90 south of Madison. The suggestions must clear the next governor and legislature.

By John Casper

Each and every one of us who own and drive a vehicle are getting charged for using Wisconsin's vast transportation system. More than 90 percent of funding to maintain our state transportation system comes from the gas tax and vehicle registration fees. Many of us consider these expenses as simply a cost of having the freedom to get to where we want, when we want. We may not be happy to pay extra fees, but we understand their purpose.

But did you know that our dollars, which are supposed to be held in a segregated Transportation Fund account and used only to maintain the state's transportation infrastructure, have been used to "balance" the State's books?

During the last eight years, Wisconsin has diverted more than $1.8 billion from 17 different segregated funds, using these transferred dollars for purposes other than those for which the funds were created. The State's Transportation Fund has been particularly hard hit by this practice, with nearly $1.3 billion having been raided to fund non-transportation related expenditures to support other government spending. These raids on the transportation fund have hurt our State's transportation network, damaged our state's bond rating, and hurt our economy.

As the sole source of state funding for the entire transportation system – highways, air, rail, transit, harbors, bicycle and pedestrian facilities - when money is diverted from the transportation fund, it hurts all of these modes of transportation. This practice of transferring money out of the segregated transportation fund in an attempt to fill a deficit in a general fund has damaged Wisconsin's fiscal health and our ability to fund necessary transportation projects.

The Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce has joined and supports a state-wide coalition called Finding Forward. The goal of the Coalition is to engage the public in a positive initiative that will break this unhealthy budgeting cycle. That's why local governments, private businesses, organized labor, transportation associations, regional planning interests, housing organizations and many other groups have come together as a coalition committed to moving Wisconsin forward.

The Finding Forward Coalition asked Counties throughout the State to place an advisory referendum question on the election ballot to protect Wisconsin's transportation user fees and provide state legislators with a clear sense of the public's wishes. On the November 2 ballot, Winnebago County voters will be ask whether the Wisconsin Constitution should be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the state's segregated transportation fund. A "Yes" vote on this question would give our elected representatives in Madison a clear sense the public wants transportation funds to be used for its intended purpose.

Ultimately, passage of such a constitutional amendment would require that transportation funds be used solely to fund Wisconsin's transportation systems and infrastructure. However, the proposed constitutional amendment requires adoption by two successive legislatures, and ratification by the people, before it can become effective.

The Oshkosh Chamber believes amending the Wisconsin constitution to safeguard transportation user fees is part of a return to fiscal responsibility. Instead of using transportation revenue to plug general fund deficits, this money should be used for its intended purpose to make the necessary investments to ensure future prosperity.

While many factors contribute to a good business climate, access to a reliable transportation network is an absolute necessity for our jobs, our economy and our families. We all need to work together to find adequate, sustainable funding to meet our transportation needs and expand the base of current funding. However, the Governor and Wisconsin lawmakers must respect the integrity of the Transportation Fund. A "Yes" vote on this question is the necessary first step to this end.

John Casper is president and CEO of the Oshkosh Chamber of Commerce.

On November 2nd, 53 counties will ask the question: Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?

Racine County included the question on the September 14th primary ballot. With an almost three-to-one margin, Racine County voters sent a clear message to Madison: Keep transportation dollars in transportation.

RACINE COUNTY - County voters say the transfer of state transportation funds out of its segregated fund should be unconstitutional, according to initial results from the county's referendum.

County residents were asked on the ballot if the Wisconsin Constitution should be amended to prohibit the transfer of money from the segregated transportation fund, which includes money from the state's gas tax.

There were 16,746 votes for the referendum. The votes against it were 6,025, according to unofficial results as of 12:30 a.m. Wednesday. Not all votes were in as of that time.

The referendum was only an advisory referendum, which means it asks what people think but government officials do not need to follow the advice. County Board members who voted to put the question on the ballot said it would send a message to Madison about what voters think.

To change the state's Constitution to prohibit such transfers of funds, the state Senate and Assembly would need to pass the constitutional amendment in two separate sessions and then it would need to be submitted to the public.

MADISON – With an almost three-to-one margin, Racine County voters sent a clear message to Madison: Keep transportation dollars in transportation.

Finding Forward, a broad-based coalition that supports amending the Wisconsin constitution to prohibit transferring money from the transportation fund, released a statement today applauding the results of yesterday’s referendum vote in Racine County.

“The response from Racine shows that this issue is not about politics, it’s just common sense,” says Craig Thompson, executive director of the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin. “There was no radio or TV advertising, no direct mail pieces. We simply gave people a vehicle to be heard on an issue they feel strongly about.”

In Racine, the county clerk’s unofficial tally showed that 18,748 votes were cast in favor of the advisory referendum on amending the constitution to prohibit transfer of transportation funds, with only 6,676 votes cast against it.

An identical advisory referendum will be on the fall general election ballots in more than 50 additional Wisconsin counties.

Finding Forward is supported by a diverse group of partners including private businesses, organized labor, regional planning interests, county and municipal officials, agricultural and housing organizations, and more. The group notes that the majority of states in the nation currently protect their transportation funds via constitutional provisions. More information about members of Finding Forward and the campaign to safeguard Wisconsin’s transportation fund is available at www.FindingForwardWisconsin.org.

The county-wide referendum reads: Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?

“We are very pleased with the number of counties that will have the advisory referendum question on the fall ballot,” said Craig Thompson, executive director of the non-profit Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin.  “Fifty was our goal, and we have exceeded it.”

Thompson’s group is part of Finding Forward, a broad-based coalition that supports amending the Wisconsin constitution to prohibit transferring money from the transportation fund to the state’s general fund or using it for purposes unrelated to transportation. Finding Forward’s grass roots efforts are supported by a diverse group of partners including private businesses, organized labor, regional planning interests, state, county and municipal officials, agricultural and housing organizations, and more.

“The breadth of support for this issue has been extraordinary”, said Thompson.  “When you look at the array of groups that have decided to advocate for this referendum and then consider 50-plus county boards each voting to place this question on the ballot, there is no mistaking how deeply this issue resonates with people from all areas of the state.”

Finding Forward notes that the majority of states in the nation currently protect their transportation funds via constitutional provisions. More information about members of Finding Forward and the campaign to safeguard Wisconsin’s transportation fund is available at www.FindingForwardWisconsin.org.

As of today, the advisory referendum will appear on the fall election ballot in the following counties:

Shawano County voters will have one additional item to make up their minds about before they go to the polls in November.

Shawano County supervisors Wednesday voted to add a non-binding advisory referendum to the ballot asking voters whether the state constitution should be changed to prevent the governor from tapping the state’s transportation fund to shore up the budget.

A drive pushing similar referendums across the state has so far resulted in more than half of Wisconsin’s counties putting the same question on the November ballot.

Though the referendum will have no binding effect on the state, supporters say it will send legislators a message that voters support rewriting the state constitution to protect transportation money.

Supervisors voted 24-6 to place the following question on the ballot in November: “Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?”

The printing and other additional expenses related to the referendum question will cost the county just under $500, according to County Clerk Rosemary Bohm.

By JASON SMATHERS

JANESVILLE — Come November, Rock County voters could tell the state Legislature and governor to keep their hands out of transportation funds.

The Rock County Board Staff Committee approved a resolution Tuesday that would add an advisory referendum to November's ballot on whether Wisconsin should prohibit the Legislature from moving money out of the segregated transportation fund. The fund is comprised of fuel tax revenue and license registration fees.

The referendum would have no binding effect but would advise the state government to amend the state Constitution to protect the fund.

Assistant County Administrator Phil Boutwell said the measure appeals to counties and municipalities throughout Wisconsin because of their reliance on general transportation aid for the state. When the state takes money out of the transportation fund and shifts it to other programs or projects, there's less money for local road maintenance and projects for municipalities, Boutwell said.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that $1.2 billion was shifted from the fund in the last decade. That money was replaced with $800 million in general obligation bonds.

The issue is especially relevant to Rock County, given the planned expansion of Interstate 90/39. While federal funding is estimated to cover 40 to 50 percent of the $1 billion project, the rest would come from the state transportation fund.

The Finding Forward Coalition, an advocacy group comprised of transportation, business and municipal interest groups, has been pushing the ballot measure in counties across the state. So far, 47 of Wisconsin's 72 counties have put the advisory referendum on the ballot. A similar referendum is being considered in Walworth County.

While the Staff Committee approved the resolution unanimously, County Board Chair Russ Podzilni did note that closing off the fund could lead legislators to raid other designated revenue streams.

With its approval from the Public Works Committee and the Staff Committee, the referendum will go to the County Board on Sept. 9.

By: Brian Bull, Wisconsin Public Radio, Superior Telegram

(WHEATON) Nearly 200 communities in Wisconsin have imposed weight limits on their roads, mostly to save money. They figure less strain on roads will mean fewer repairs down the road.

But the trucking industry says those limits hurt their bottom line.

The Chippewa County town of Wheaton is one community caught up in that debate.

A dusty, gravel truck rolls out of Wheaton, onto County Road N. It’s one of the lighter trucks, safely under the 30-ton limit that this small town has imposed on several local roads. That’s kept out the largest of trucks, like oversize semis, but Wheaton town chairman Paul Krumenauer says agricultural vehicles are getting bigger and heavier in this farm-heavy area. He’s sure things will come to a head again very soon.

“And it’s tough. Getting expensive per mile,” says Krumenauer. “Not just black top, it’s we’re requiring to go to a bigger roadbed because of the bigger trucks, bigger farm machinery. One thing that has been hard on roads is farm machinery, (namely) liquid manure spreaders.”

Manure spreaders that have to come through, admits Krumenauer.

The town of Wheaton has tried to keep a cap on big vehicles, diverting them onto more ruggedly built county highways whenever possible. Krumenauer recalls last year, when the town posted a 10-ton limit for some of its roads, which residents liked.

“The county highway is built for the heavier trucks and the heavier truck limit, and so we tried it for a year,” he says. He remembers how the town board eventually decided to side with the truckers, “and take off the weight limit instead of in favor of citizens along those roads really desired.”

But some were happy to see the 10-ton limit go. Al Solberg is also on the Wheaton town board, and a trucker.

“I guess we’d all like to live on a road with no traffic and no trucks, but unfortunately most of us don’t,” says Solberg. “I felt to some degree that if we said OK, the next citizens would come and say `We want our road posted’, what would we do with the next ones that may not be on connector roads?”

Solberg runs petroleum around Chippewa County, in a big green monster that’s just around 30 tons. He delivers 80,000 gallons to neighborhood stations, and about 30,000 more gallons out to customers on his route on an average week.

Solberg’s trucking delivery is considered an “essential service” so he’s sometimes allowed to drive on posted roads. But he’s seen many commercial truckers have to detour around towns that he says adds on mileage and expense.

But Rick Stadelman, executive director of the Wisconsin Towns Association, says town officials have their own expense issues. He says the general transportation fund allocates places like Wheaton about $2000 a mile to maintain their roads, but adds that a typical road reconstruction can range from $70,000- $150,000 depending how much work is done on the base and surfacing.

“And so the fairly limited dollars have to be stretched further and further,” Stadelman says.

Which leads to a shared sore spot between towns and truckers: lawmakers dipping into the state’s transportation fund to fix up budget holes. Wisconsin Motor Carriers Association president Thomas Howells says much of that comes from user fees paid by truckers.

“With the Governor and legislature over the last six to seven taking $1.3-billion out of that fund -- -- now to be fair they did replace some of that some of that with bonding money ---but I think the net reduction in funds in transportation is about $400 million dollars, that’s clearly had an impact in terms of local and state roads,” Howell says.

There’s no clear solution to alleviate the woes of both towns and truckers. But there are 35 counties -- including Chippewa -- that have put a “hands off” transportation fund referendum on their ballot this fall.

St. Croix, Polk and Pierce County voters will apparently be among those who will be asked to weigh in on a state referendum during the November election.

The local counties are among 35 Wisconsin counties that will place an advisory referendum on the ballot.

The question being posed is whether or not the state should change its constitution to ensure that tax money collected in the name of transportation actually is spent on transportation projects.

Why the state needs a constitutional change to solidify the specified use of certain funds is perplexing, but the state legislature and governor have raided the transportation fund in the past to pay for expenses unrelated to roads and that needs to stop.

It makes sense that voters should support such an advisory referendum, even if legislators are not required to act on the issue even if there is a lopsided vote.

But an overwhelming vote to change the constitution could hardly be ignored by elected officials.

The push for a change is supported by a laundry list of organizations across Wisconsin, including municipal governments, organized labor, nonprofit groups and regional planning organizations.

A campaign to get the advisory referendum on the ballot in every county continues. It’s likely that most, if not all, counties in the state will eventually place the question before voters this fall.

We wouldn’t be surprised if the results from the vote send a clear message from the electorate. The state needs to stop playing a shell game with designated funds within the overall budget.

As of today, the advisory referendum will appear on the fall election ballot in the following counties:

• Ashland, August 19th
• Bayfield, August 31st
• Crawford, August 17th
• Forest, August 17th
• Green Lake, August 17th
• Iron, August 31st
• Jefferson, August 10th
• Oneida, August 17th
• Price, August 17th
• Richland, August 17th
• Sauk, August 17th
• Shawano, August 25th
• Sheboygan, August 17th
• Trempealeau, August 16th

Please contact the county boards and let them know that you support giving the citizens in these counties a voice on this important issue.

A movement to end raids on the state transportation fund has gained momentum, and we hope the grassroots effort succeeds in placing the issue on November ballots across Wisconsin.

Finding Forward, a coalition of transportation-related organizations and other groups, displays a map on its website showing Wisconsin counties — 30 as of Thursday, including Brown and Manitowoc — that have passed a resolution to put the question to voters in their county this fall as a nonbinding, advisory referendum.

The question that Brown County voters will see on the Nov. 14 ballot: Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?

Wisconsin has developed a dangerous habit of robbing a segregated fund to help fill a budget shortfall. According to the state Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the state has transferred about $1.2 billion from the state's transportation fund to the state's general fund over the past decade. The bureau reports that the state borrowed more than $800 million in general obligation bonds to replace the loss, which cut the amount available for transportation projects by more than $400 million.

The fund gets financing primarily from user fees on the state gasoline tax, vehicle registration fees and federal aid. The coalition believes the practice of raiding segregated funds has damaged the public's confidence in such fees.

"Wisconsin faces another multibillion dollar deficit as we head into the next biennial budget," Craig Thompson, executive director of the Transportation Development Association of Wisconsin, wrote in a guest column last week. "Repeated transfers have only lengthened and worsened the situation for the general fund, which other vital programs rely upon."

Thompson, whose group is part of Finding Forward, said 29 states — including neighboring Iowa, Michigan and Minnesota — have language in their state constitutions that protect transportation user fees.

The Brown County Board rightly passed the resolution by an 18-6 vote on July 21. Such resolutions are nonbinding, but they give state lawmakers the backing they need to propose a constitutional amendment through a statewide referendum.

Ultimately, the state Legislature would have to pass such a proposed amendment in two consecutive legislative sessions. The earliest we could see a referendum question on the statewide ballot would be 2013.

Just recently, the Wisconsin Supreme Court ruled 5-2 that it was unconstitutional for the state to transfer $200 million from the patient compensation fund, and that the state must repay interest and lost earnings. Granted, the patient compensation fund is not subsidized through user fees (and actually gets its financing from payments by physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals). Still, the case underscores that Wisconsin has developed a pattern of diverting designated funds to pay for unrelated expenses.

A referendum of this type shouldn't be necessary in the first place, but the money in dedicated funds appears too tempting for the state's elected leaders to resist.

It's time for the state to discontinue these raids and learn to balance the Wisconsin budget through generally accepted accounting principles. And it's time for the state transportation fund to be spent on Wisconsin's transportation system.

MADISON – A grassroots campaign to safeguard money in the state transportation fund continues to gain momentum across the state. In the past few weeks, 35 Wisconsin county boards have voted to include an advisory referendum question on the fall election ballot asking if the Wisconsin constitution should be amended to protect transportation funds. Many more counties are expected to take up the initiative in the coming month.

“County highway departments have seen firsthand the negative impact past transfers have had on the public’s confidence in transportation investment in Wisconsin,” said Daniel J. Fedderly, executive director of the Wisconsin County Highway Association.

The Wisconsin County Highway Association is part of Finding Forward, a broad-based coalition of Wisconsin county and municipal governments, private businesses, organized labor, agriculture, non-profit associations, regional planning interests, housing organizations and other groups, all of which support amending the Wisconsin constitution to prohibit transferring money from the transportation fund to the state’s general fund or for purposes unrelated to transportation.

“The progress of this initiative is very, very encouraging,” Fedderly said. “By voting to place the advisory referendum question on their fall ballots, these counties have said yes to letting citizens make their voices heard on whether the transportation fund should be used only for transportation-related purposes.”

The majority of states in the nation currently protect their transportation funds via constitutional provisions. More information about Finding Forward and the campaign to safeguard Wisconsin’s transportation fund is available at www.FindingForwardWisconsin.org.

As of today, the advisory referendum will appear on the fall election ballot in the following counties:

By Jeff Bollier

Winnebago County residents will vote on an advisory referendum on whether to amend the constitution to prevent state law makers from using transportation fund dollars to plug budget deficits.

The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors voted 24-9 on Tuesday to put the referendum question on the Nov. 2 ballot.

The Transportation Development Association, supporters of the referendum, are pushing to have it included on the ballot in each of the state's 72 counties.

Association Executive Director Craig Thompson said supporters believe it's the only way to stop legislators from raiding the fund to cover ongoing budget deficits.

"If we feel this is the only way to prop up the general fund, it's only going to make the budget's day of reckoning worse (if continued)," Thompson said.

In the last 10 years, $1.2 billion has been taken from the fund, which handled about $25 billion in the same time, to cover state programs. Legislators replaced those funds with $800 million of general obligation bonds.

Supervisor Jef Hall opposed the referendum question, saying it was "misleading" and not the way to spur an honest discussion about state spending.

At least 30 counties have approved putting similar referendums on their ballots this fall. Another five counties considered similar referendums on Tuesday, too.

This article also ran in the Appleton Post Crescent.

Now that the Wisconsin Supreme Court has slapped the hands of state officials with a fondness for shuffling money around to balance the state budget, it's time to put the shackles on.

There is a strong movement around the state to put an advisory referendum on the ballot in November that would constitutionally protect the state's transportation fund and keep the governor and lawmakers from using it to balance other parts of the state budget.

This fund, which is made up mostly of gasoline taxes and motor vehicle license and registration, has been "tapped" repeatedly in the last four state budgets to balance shortfalls or deficits. In most cases, IOUs or borrowing have replaced the money taken from transportation.

The advisory question would ask if people support amending the Wisconsin constitution to prohibit further raids or transfers from the state's segregated transportation fund.

According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, since the 2003-05 budget, a total of just over $1.3 billion has been taken from transportation and used elsewhere in the budget. In all, raids of this nature have shuffled more than $1.8 billion over the four two-year budgets under both Democratic and Republican leadership.

This figure doesn't include the $200 million taken in 2007 from the Injured Patients' Compensation Fund that the Supreme Court said must be repaid with interest because the money shift was illegal.

The move to get the advisory referendum to protect transportation money is being pushed by a group calling itself Finding Forward — a reference to the state motto "Forward." It's pretty clear that this group, which includes local government people, businesses, labor groups and others, feels Wisconsin is not moving forward by continually running budget deficits and then shuffling money around to cover the shortfalls.

We agree that the state is ignoring the 800-pound gorilla in the room by not facing up to its woefully shortsighted budgeting practices. Until state officials come to grips with these budget shenanigans, Wisconsin will continually face structural budget deficits that lead to making poor decisions with taxpayer dollars.

While we oppose using the state constitution to effect policy changes, we think in this case there is good reason to put a constitutional padlock on the transportation fund.

Thirty of the state's 72 counties have already approved putting the advisory referendum on the ballot in November.

The Sheboygan County Board of Supervisors will vote in August on whether to give its constituents a say in how their money is spent.

We urge them to put the referendum question on the ballot and we urge voters to support it.

This editorial also ran in the Stevens Point Journal.

By Jessica Larsen

The Monroe County Board meets Wednesday to discuss and vote on the following issues:

- The raise in price for dog license taxes from $20 to $25. The change would take effect Jan. 1, 2011. There would be no change to the $10 tax for dogs to be spayed and neutered.

- The raise in the dog license tax for kennel fees up to 12 dogs from $85 to $125. There would be no raise in the license tax for kennels with 12 dogs and up. The purpose behind both resolutions is to encourage spaying and neutering of dogs to reduce the number of stray animals in the county.

- The board will vote on whether to adopt the Monroe County Comprehensive Plan. A comprehensive plan is required by the state of Wisconsin if a municipality wants to take any action that affects land use. The Planning and Zoning Committee prepared the plan, along with the assistance of a consultant. Public meetings were held May 18, 19 and 20 and June 2.

- The board will vote on whether to place an advisory referendum question on the November ballot: “Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?” The question on the November ballot would ask the residents of Monroe County is they want to, “fully restore the fuel tax user fee concept by retaining fuel tax revenues and vehicle registration fees within the Wisconsin transportation budget and to stop the practice of diverting transportation fund revenues to support non-transportation general fund expenditures.”

- The board will vote on the cancelation of outstanding accounts for the Monroe County Jail in order to clear the books. There are 151 residents with a total of $633.89. Of that, $630 went to a 70-inch advertisement listing the unclaimed funds. If the resolution is passed, the remaining $3.89 will be placed in the general fund account.

Advisory referendums are often used by indecisive, ineffectual public officials to check which way the wind is blowing before deciding how to act on controversial issues.

In addition, an advisory referendum often becomes a suit of armor for a public official who wants to justify a potential career-ending vote. Therefore, we generally take a skeptical view of such measures, preferring that elected officials study issues, listen to constituents and make decisions they were elected to make.

However, the resolution before the Winnebago County Board of Supervisors tonight for an advisory referendum comes with extenuating circumstances. Thus we encourage supervisors to join a statewide movement by placing an advisory referendum on the November ballot to would allow voters to communicate clearly to the legislature about creating a constitutional amendment to prohibit using state transportation funds to balance the state budget.

Over the past decade, the legislature has transferred $1.2 billion from the state transportation fund to balance the budget and replaced it with $800 million in general obligation bonds. The ruse by the legislature is fairly obvious. Since it cannot borrow money to balance the state budget, it dips into the state transportation fund and then borrows money for road projects. The gimmick in essence is borrowing to balance the state budget. It is a gaping loophole that needs to be shut down for two reasons. First, it ensures transportation funds collected by the state from taxes and fees on gasoline, motor vehicle titling, licensing and registration, and fees for roadway usage would be used for what they were designated – roads, airports and ports. Second, it would force the state legislature into honest budgeting practices.

We know the legislature is unlikely to act on its own to begin the process of amending the state constitution to wall off transportation funds. They had that chance when Sen. Randy Hopper, R-Fond du Lac, introduced legislation in 2009 calling for a constitutional amendment. But Hopper's bill never got out of committee.

The legislature's practice of raiding segregated funds for the general budget was rebuked last week when the state Supreme Court ruled using $200 million from patients' compensation fund was unconstitutional. However, the ruling is not a precedent since the Supreme Court decision was based on a specific constitutional issue that does not apply to the transportation fund.

Although Hopper plans on re-introducing his legislation in January, there is no reason to believe the legislature will pursue a constitutional amendment on its own. It needs a push from voters around the state to do the right thing.

The Final Thought: County supervisors can give voters a voice in government raids on transportation fund.

By Jennifer K. Woldt

The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday will consider holding an advisory referendum in November on whether the state needs a constitutional amendment to limit the use of the state transportation fund to transportation projects only.

The Legislative Fiscal Bureau estimates that $1.2 billion has been transferred from the transportation fund over the past decade and has been replaced with $800 million in general obligation bonds. That leaves a $400 million shortfall in state funding for highway projects and maintenance.

If included on the ballot, the question will ask voters whether the state constitution should be amended to specify that funds collected by the state from taxes and fees on gasoline, motor vehicle titling, licensing and registration, and fees for roadway usage and deposited into the transportation fund could only be used for transportation purposes and not be transferred and used for other non-transportation related programs.

"We're not telling the state what to do, we're just telling them this is transportation money and should be used for transportation," said Ken Robl, chairman of the Winnebago County Highway Committee. "The people that are using their automobiles, they're paying gasoline taxes and paying for maintenance of the roads with that money."

Taxes residents pay on gasoline and fees for vehicle licensing, titling and registration are the main contributors to the transportation fund.

State Sen. Randy Hopper, R-Fond du Lac, tried to introduce a similar constitutional amendment during budget sessions in 2009. He said money in the transportation fund is meant to maintain roads or fund projects like the U.S. Highway 41 expansion, not to cover state budget shortfalls.

"We have got to stop taking segregated funds out of other areas to spend for other purposes," Hopper said. "The gas tax and registration fees are specifically to be used to build and maintain roads. We have a huge demand for projects we can't afford."

Hopper said he plans to reintroduce the amendment when the Legislature convenes in January.

The advisory referendum question is so far set to appear on ballots in at least 12 of the state's 72 counties — including Outagamie and Waushara counties — in November, according to the Finding Forward Coalition, a group that supports making the change to the state constitution.

The Winnebago County Board of Supervisors will consider placing a referendum on the November ballot during its meeting Tuesday.

The article also ran July 27th in the Appleton Post-Crescent.

By Lyn Jerde

Columbia County voters will have a say - but not yet a legally binding say - as to whether the state constitution should be amended to prohibit the Legislature from raiding the transportation fund to shore up the general fund.

By a 29-1 vote Wednesday, the supervisors adopted a resolution to place, on the Nov. 2 ballot, a nonbinding advisory referendum with just one question: "Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?"

For the amendment to become part of the constitution, it would have to pass both houses of the state Legislature in two consecutive sessions before it can be submitted to voters for ratification.

Craig Thompson, executive director of the Transportation Development Association - a private consortium of Wisconsin entities interested in the state's transportation system - told the supervisors Wednesday that 26 other Wisconsin counties also plan to place the issue on the November ballot, and 35 other county boards are considering doing so.

If the people of Wisconsin show widespread support for the amendment, Thompson said, it's more likely to garner the legislative support that it hasn't gotten - so far - to get it past the talking stages.

Already, all three major candidates for governor - Republicans Scott Walker and Mark Neumann and Democrat Tom Barrett - have spoken favorably about the amendment, Thompson said. One of the reasons they're talking about it at all, he said, is because counties are putting the matter to a nonbinding vote.

According to the resolution that the supervisors adopted, about $1.2 billion has been taken from the transportation fund, most of which is comprised of revenues from gasoline taxes and vehicle registrations. About $800 million of that has been replaced, in the form of general obligation bonds, which is basically borrowed money.

This hurts not only transportation-related projects such as roads and bridges, Thompson said. The money to pay off the bonds that are put into the transportation fund is state money that could be used for things such as shared revenue and services to communities.

But, asked Supervisor Richard Boockmeier of Portage, if the constitutional amendment is so popular, where is the opposition to it?

A partial answer came from Supervisor Timothy O'Neil of Columbus, who cast the lone vote against the resolution to bring the amendment to a non-binding vote.

Lawmakers and the governor should have the flexibility to move funds around in order to keep the budget balanced, he said.

Amending the state constitution to forbid raiding the transportation fund would not address the state's larger fiscal problems, O'Neil said.

"It flies in the face of the issue: There are not enough dollars to do what we want to do," he said.

And, O'Neil added, by forbidding the Legislature from dipping into the transportation fund for general-fund expenditures, the amendment would "obliquely" lead to increases in property taxes.

Thompson said he agrees that the state's process for collecting and spending money need examination and possible overhaul.

But, he said, money that comes from user fees, such as the money in the transportation fund, should not be used or borrowed for general-fund expenses.

"It's a fundamental issue," he said, "of keeping user fees separate from general taxes."

Robert Westby of Lodi, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said the referendum would have a cost, in the time spent by the county clerk's office to prepare the measure for the ballot, and in the expense of publishing the legally required notices about the measure.]]> http://findingforwardwisconsin.org/inner.iml?mdl=news.mdl&ArticleID=23 info@findingforwardwisconsin.org (Debby) Thu, 22 Jul 2010 17:00:00 CST http://findingforwardwisconsin.org/inner.iml?mdl=news.mdl&ArticleID=24 WQOW-TV, Eau Claire

Two counties want their voters to weigh in on a key state budget issue.

Tuesday night, both the Chippewa and Eau Claire County Boards voted to put an advisory referendum on the November ballot.

That question will ask whether the state constitution should be amended to prohibit transfers from the transportation fund. Lawmakers have taken money from that fund and moved it to the state's general fund in recent years. That's left some taxpayers wondering whether the gas tax they pay is being spent appropriately.]]> http://findingforwardwisconsin.org/inner.iml?mdl=news.mdl&ArticleID=24 info@findingforwardwisconsin.org (Debby) Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:00:00 CST http://findingforwardwisconsin.org/inner.iml?mdl=news.mdl&ArticleID=18 Superior Telegram

By Shelley Nelson

Voters in Douglas County are joining a growing number around the state casting a ballot that weighs in on state spending habits.

Voters in Douglas County are joining a growing number around the state casting a ballot that weighs in on state spending habits.

The Douglas County Board last week adopted a resolution that allows residents to state their opinion how the state should be handling its segregated transportation fund.

According to the state Legislative Fiscal Bureau, the state has transferred about $1.2 billion from the transportation fund to the general fund, used to pay for state operations.

To replace the money – license and registration fees, and the state gas tax generate 90 percent of the revenue – the state has borrowed about $800 million in general obligation debt.

The resolution adopted by the board states: “Wisconsin’s practice of replacing the dollars transferred from the state’s segregated transportation fund with [general obligation] bonds puts our state in the precarious position of bonding to fund ongoing operations. The practice further hinders funding of programs like shared revenue, youth and community aids, and the state’s court system.”

Voters are asked: “Should the Wisconsin Constitution be amended to prohibit any further transfers or lapses from the segregated transportation fund?”

The vote won’t change the state constitution, but it would advise the legislature and governor about public sentiment for using transportation funds to pay for schools while putting the state further in debt.

According to the Pew Center on the States, a nonpartisan research tank, Wisconsin is among the top 10 states in financial peril.

“Wisconsin’s history of budget shortfalls and pattern of borrowing frequently to cover operating expenses, among other measures, made it poorly positioned to weather the most recent severe economic downturn,” according to “Beyond California: States in Fiscal Peril, published in November by the Pew Center of the States. Shifting transportation funds to pay for education and other day-to-day operations and borrowing to fill the gap were cited as contributing to the state’s financial stress.

County boards in Waukesha, Outagamie, Racine, Jackson and Dodge counties are among those that previously adopted similar resolutions.

The Transportation Development Association is sponsoring the statewide campaign to protect the segregated transportation fund with the support of a variety of statewide organizations representing transportation, commerce and local government.

Supervisor Keith Allen suggested simplifying the question to make it easier for voters to understand, however, the board made no change to the proposed language.

“Our goal is to have exactly the same question on the ballot,” to send a unified message to Madison, said County Highway Commissioner Paul Halverson.

Douglas County Clerk Sue Sandvick said while an explanation of a “yes” or “no” vote won’t appear on the ballot, it will be published and available at polling locations countywide.

The question goes to the voters Nov. 2.]]> http://findingforwardwisconsin.org/inner.iml?mdl=news.mdl&ArticleID=18 info@findingforwardwisconsin.org (Debby) Wed, 21 Jul 2010 17:00:00 CST http://findingforwardwisconsin.org/inner.iml?mdl=news.mdl&ArticleID=22 Eau Claire Leader-Telegram

By Christena T. O'Brien

Eau Claire County is among a number of counties statewide that will put an advisory question on the November ballot asking voters if the Wisconsin Constitution should be amended to bar the state from using gas taxes and vehicle registration fees to balance the state budget.

The Eau Claire County Board voted 22-5 Tuesday night to put the referendum before voters Nov. 2. Supervisors Gloria Christensen, Jim Dunning, Ardyth Krause, Gerald Wilkie and Bruce Willett cast the dissenting votes.