Wisconsin Regional Transit Authorities:
Who’s Driving Your Bus?

By Deb Jordahl

Public transportation advocates and local officials traveled to Madison last month to lobby for the creation of additional regional transit authorities in Wisconsin.  Proponents say the legislation is needed to help communities keep up with future transportation needs. 

"We're trying to run a 21st century transportation program with 20th century funding mechanisms,” said Racine Mayor Gary Becker.  "Without this authority, Wisconsin will continue to lag behind."

2 years ago, South Eastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority (SEWRTA) was formed to report on the transportation needs in Milwaukee , Racine and Kenosha Counties.  They were given the authority to implement up to a $2 dollar tax on rental cars.

Statute requires SEWRTA to submit a plan to the legislature on improving coordination of expanded mass transit, commuter rail, and passenger, the use of bonding, and identifying permanent regional funding sources for local funding portions of commuter rail and public transit not covered by passenger fares.  This includes addressing Milwaukee County’s $50 million dollar transit deficit.

If SEWRTA’s brief history is any indication, there’s trouble down the line.  SEWRTA demonstrated why un-elected and, unaccountable is unworkable when the Board signed a $500,000 contract for lobbyists and PR people to push a plan to raise the car rental tax by 650%.

And that report to the legislature?  Nothing yet.

The importance of taxation as a responsibility of elected leaders alone was not lost on State Representative Robin Vos who vowed to oppose any RTA funding measure that isn't subject to approval from taxpayers.  ”I cannot support a creation of any new entity that will simply have the specific goal of raising taxes on Wisconsin citizens,” Vos said.

The SEWRTA boondoggle is another example of an unelected board run amok, but for local officials and special interests, it’s a much easier way to tax first and answer questions later.