MONROE - 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.
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.