Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1922-11-15
WISCONSIN'S FUTURE
HIGHWAY PROGRAM

| HIGHWAY PROGRAM
report made by the Legislative
Committee fthe Wisconsin County
Boards Association)
The total highway expenditures in
Wisconsin in 1922, State, County and
Township, will amount to in round
numbers. O37 100000. OF this amount
81 ,000, 900 is paid by motor vehicle
owners, IS, 5S2, 900 comes from indi-
rect taxes and $50 ,494 900 is paid by
taxes on the real and personal proper
ty of the state.
That this distribution of the cost
of road improvement is ineouitable
and unjust, throwing too large a share
of the burden Of the tax on real and
personal property-the motor vehicles
paying about 1870 and general pro-
perty 90&e-and that the motor We
hicles should foot about one-third of
the bill, or $10,000,000, relieving gen.
eral property of hits amount of taxes,
is the outstanding recommendation of
the Legislative Committee of the Wis
consin County Boards Association
which is being sent to every member
of a county board in the state.
The report proposes to remedy the
matter by removing the following gen
eral property taxes and substituting
in their stead imposts on motor We
hicles:
The state general property tax here
tofore levied to meet the federal aid.
This would amount to 81, 100000 each
year in the three year period begin
ming next year.
The taxes levied by the counties for
maintenance of roads. This amounts
to approximately $1,700,000 a year.
The full cost of maintenance would be
borne by the motor vehicle.
One-half the cost of maintaining
county organizations, S400, 600.
Surveys to locate road materials,
$4,000
Roads in and to state parks, $50 900
State aid for roads and bridges,
$9S5,000. This is now taken from the
general fund.
! In addition to eliminating these gen
eral property taxes, the committee ia
vors change in the law so that state
trunk highways would be built wholly
with federal and state funds and that
counties would not be required to pay
a one-third share, as at present. This
would relieve the counties of raising
81 zoe, 900 year under the increased
federal aid available.
To take the place of these taxes
eliminated and raise funds to continue
the road program, the committee rec.
ommends tn following:
A 2Fo tax on the value of motor We.
hicles to be paid to the secretary Of
state and take the place of the pres
ent personal property tax. AS the av.
erage personal property rate is .02;
Throughout the state this would not in
crease the taxes of the average per.
sonal property tax payer. The valu
alton of the cars would be fixed by the
secretary of state and it is suggested
that it be 900 of the cost new the
first year, TOO the second year. 50%
the third year.
A change in the present motor We
hicle license law whereby instead Of
a fiat rate of $1,000 the rate would
be graded on hte basis of SOC per hun
dred weight Under this arrangement
Ford car would pay $500 and the H.
cense would be graded upward accord
ing to weight. This is not an add
tional impost but a change in the
method of licensing.
A considerable increase and gradu
ated fee on heavy motor trucks anC
busses, averaging 81 for every hun
bred weight of vehicle and of load
| The committee holds that these vehi
cles are highly destructive of roaC
and should, in measurable degree
pay part of the expense they create
and that public sentiment demands
this increase.
The final recommendation is a taS
of &c gallon on gasoline used in
motor vehicles on highways, with g
provision for a refund of the tax or
gasoline used for agricultural, man.
ufacturing or other purposes. 1t is
held that gasoline consumption of mo-
tor vehicles indicates better than any
other known method the weight, speed
and mileage travelled Under this
| plan the tourists from other states
would contribute to the maintenance
and building of our roads whose use
they enjoy.
A number of other recommendation
are made regarding changes in me-
thods of hahdling the highway pro.
gram