PHOTO: Courtesy of WLUK
GREEN BAY, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) — The City of Green Bay wants the state to pitch in more money to fix and maintain its roads and bridges and it sounds like more municipalities across the state will be doing the same thing.
A city resolution urges the governor and legislature to “enact a comprehensive, sustainable, transportation funding solution.”
Green Bay Public Works Director Valerie Joosten says the resolution is based off a template the League of Wisconsin Municipalities sent to its members.
“We’re just trying to get additional funding to try to close the gaps and make sure that we can adequately fund the maintenance of the roads,” said Joosten.
The resolution says “absent sustainable state funding, the city has been forced to address its backlog of infrastructure maintenance by significantly increasing borrowing, deferring projects, and imposing a local (wheel tax).”
“They’re not wrong in that they’re struggling, as a lot of other places around the state are,” said State Sen. Jamie Wall, D-Green Bay.
Jamie Wall says he already has plans this week to talk with his fellow legislators about options for transportation funding.
“One of the big ideas is to take sales tax revenue for new car purchases and devote that to transportation,” said Wall. “It sounds reasonable to me, but right now that money is just going to other purposes, so what do we do about that?”
In a statement, Republican State Senator Eric Wimberger points out the state has provided the state with millions of dollars recently for things like fixing the Ray Nitschke Bridge and relocating the coal piles.
“Green Bay leadership continues to show it will never have enough money because of its mismanagement, focus on pointless social engineering efforts, and blaming others for its failings,” said Wimberger.
Green Bay’s resolution suggests enabling transportation utilities. That would allow municipalities to collect fees based on a resident or businesses’ road usage.
“People are feeling a little bit pinched right now, so I’m a little cautious about telling people here’s another institution that’s got a direct route into your wallet,” said Wall
Both Wall and the city seem to agree a more stable, predictable way to fund local roads would be nice. Finding the fix will likely prove as difficult as driving down a pothole-covered street.
Green Bay’s Protection and Policy Committee provided initial approval of the resolution Monday evening. It will go to the full city council for a vote on July 7th.
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