Number
061248
Version
SUBSTITUTE 1
Reference
Sponsor
ALD. BAUMAN, D’AMATO, MURPHY, HINES, DONOVAN, WITKOWIAK, McGEE, DAVIS, WADE AND HAMILTON
Title
Substitute resolution relating to a dedicated funding source for both the local share of the capital and operating costs for the operation of the proposed Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee commuter rail service, and the local share of the capital and operating costs for operation of local public transit service within the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.
Analysis
This resolution expresses the Common Council’s opposition to the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority’s recommendation to increase the RTA’s car rental fee from $2 to $15 per transaction for the sole purpose of funding the local share of capital and operating costs of the KRM commuter rail service. The resolution also states that the Common Council only supports a dedicated funding source for the KRM service if that funding source also provides funding for the local share of capital and operating costs of local public transit service within the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County. Finally, this resolution directs the Intergovernmental Relations Division of the Department of Administration to lobby the State Legislature to support the Common Council’s positions on this matter.
Body
Whereas, The Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority (“RTA”) was created by the Wisconsin State Legislature in 2005 for the purpose of among others, identifying dedicated funding sources to fund the local share of capital and operating costs of the proposed commuter rail service between Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee (“KRM”), and the local share of capital and operating costs for local public transit service in Kenosha, Racine and Milwaukee Counties; and
Whereas, The RTA receives funding from a statutory $2-per-transaction fee on car rentals in the 3-county region; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee County Transit System provides vital public service within the City of Milwaukee by providing mobility for tens of thousands of citizens, many of whom do not have access to motor vehicles because of disability, age or low income; and
Whereas, Local public transit service in general and the Milwaukee County Transit System in particular provides a transportation alternative to the private motor vehicle to citizens of the City of Milwaukee; and
Whereas, Local public transit service in general and the Milwaukee County Transit System in particular is critical to the growth and economic well being of the City of Milwaukee; and
Whereas, Over the last 6 years, the Milwaukee County Transit System has experienced fare increases and service and route reductions which, if continued, threaten the viability of public transit service in the City of Milwaukee; and
Whereas, Various proposals for the expansion and improvement of public transit service in the City of Milwaukee have been explored over the last 10 years including proposals that would directly benefit the proposed KRM service by linking that service with employment, cultural, entertainment, tourist and hotel venues in downtown Milwaukee; and
Whereas, The Milwaukee County Transit System is one of the few large city transit systems in the United States that does not have a dedicated funding source for the local share of capital and operating costs; and
Whereas, A dedicated funding source for public transit service in Milwaukee County is necessary to maintain existing public transit service within the City of Milwaukee and is essential for the expansion and improvement of public transit service in the City of Milwaukee; and
Whereas, The creation of a dedicated funding source for the local share of capital and operating costs for local public transit service in the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County will benefit City of Milwaukee property tax payers; and
Whereas, On January 30, 2007, members of the RTA voted 6-0 to recommend to the State Legislature that the cap on the RTA’s fee on car rentals be raised by $13 per transaction (from $2 to $15) to fund the capital and operating costs of the KRM commuter rail service, with no dedicated funding for local public transit service in the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County; and
Whereas, Of the $4.8 million projected to be raised annually by the $15-per-transaction car rental fee, 90% will come from car rentals occurring in Milwaukee County; and
Whereas A dedicated funding source that only funds the local share of capital and operating costs of the KRM service is not in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Milwaukee; now, therefore, be it
Resolved, By the Common Council of the City of Milwaukee, that while the Common Council supports the development of the KRM commuter rail service, the Common Council does not support the implementation of a dedicated funding source that funds the local share of capital and operating cots of the KRM service unless that dedicated funding source also provides funding for the local share of capital and operating cots related to the operation of local public transit service within the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Common Council opposes the Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority’s recommendation to increase the RTA’s car rental fee from $2 to $15 per transaction for the sole purpose of funding the local share of capital and operating costs of the KRM commuter rail service; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the Intergovernmental Relations Division of the Department of Administration is directed to lobby the State Legislature to oppose legislation increasing the RTA’s car rental fee to fund the KRM commuter rail service, and to support a dedicated funding source for the KRM service only if that funding source also provides funding for local public transit service in the City of Milwaukee and Milwaukee County.
Requestor
Drafter
LRB07011-7
JDO
02/06/2007