“This budget provides more funding to local governments for their roads and bridges, keeps borrowing at historically low levels, and maintains our no tax or fee increase pledge,” Walker says. “Good roads and bridges are important to Wisconsin and our economy, and this budget proves you don’t have to raise taxes or fees to maintain a safe and strong transportation network.”
A summary of the proposal includes:
• $1.7 billion in funding for the State Highway Rehabilitation program – the largest budget ever approved for this program and slightly above 2015-17 funding levels.
• The largest year-to-year change in local aids since the year 2000: $65 million total in additional funding will be provided over the 2015-17 biennium; 7 percent increase over 2009-11 budget levels.
• General Transportation Aid (GTA) Program: $46 million increase: County GTA increase of 8 percent over 2015-17 budget; Municipal GTA (includes towns, villages, cities) increases 4.7 percent over 2015-17 budget and 5.2 percent over 2009-11 budget; Rate per mile increases 4 percent to $2,290 (currently $2,202)
• Local Roads Improvement Program (LRIP): $14 million increase; 25 percent increase over 2015-17 budget (from $56 million to $70 million) and a 52 percent increase over the 2009-11 budget; Increases state cost share for discretionary projects from 50 percent to 60 percent; entitlement projects remain at 50/50 state/local split
