Gov. Walker won't add gas tax, registration fee increase in next budget, likely delaying road projects

MADISON — Gov. Scott Walker says he won't add a gas tax or vehicle registration fee increase in the next budget, likely heralding delays in road projects across the state.

Walker told reporters after a luncheon Thursday, June 2nd that he stands by his commitment not to raise taxes or fees unless there's a corresponding decrease in state taxes. He says he's "not going to add to the overall tax burden on the hardworking people of the state."

Walker also says borrowing will likely be similar to what passed in the previous budget. Those funding constraints may translate to delays on existing or planned projects. Walker says the emphasis in his budget will be on maintaining existing infrastructure.

U.S. Department of Transportation data released last year shows Wisconsin's roads are among the nation's worst.

Wisconsin Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb told the Wisconsin State Journal on June 1st that his budget due in September will focus on maintaining the state's bridges and highways, instead of expanding the well-traveled roads and preserving those lesser traveled. He said he will not ask for any major tax or fee increases -- but he acknowledged the move would delay road expansion work and upkeep on all but the state's most-traveled highways.

In contrast to the proposal he submitted two years ago, it won't outline ways to increase funding for Wisconsin roads, Gottlieb said.

"The decision about whether or not that's enough investment in transportation — or whether additional revenues should be raised to make more investments — is a decision that the Legislature and the governor will make," Gottlieb said.

In the 2015-2017 budget, he asked for about $750 million in new taxes and fees, including those on fuel sales and on new-vehicle purchases. But lawmakers did not adopt those proposals.

If his latest budget request is adopted, Gottlieb said it would delay highway projects throughout the state, but it's too early to tell which projects would be delayed and for how long.

Republican state Rep. Keith Ripp of Lodi said rural districts like his own "have already been hit hard by delays" in funding in the current budget.

"We really need to be looking at long-term funding solutions before our infrastructure starts negatively affecting Wisconsin's economic growth," he said.

Gottlieb said maintaining bridges and U.S. interstates and highways will be a priority. But he acknowledged that will come at the expense of maintaining other roads.

"That non-backbone system, which is about 90 percent of the state highway system, is going to continue to deteriorate in condition," Gottlieb said.