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.
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.