Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1922-11-16
Movement Under Way
To Improve Highways
SEEK CHANGES IN TAXATION TO
MAKE MOTORS PAY FOR
THE ROADS

The total highway expenditures IN
wisconsin in 1922, State, County and
Township, will amount to in round
numbers, $37,OOO,OOO Of this amount
$4,000, 900 is paid by motor vehicle
owners, $685., 900 comes from indir
ect taxes and $3O,494,6 500 is paid by
taxes on the real and personal prop
erty of the state.
That this distribution of the cost
of road Improvement is inequitable
and unjust, throwing too large a
share of the burden Of the tax on
real and personal property the motor
vehicles paying about 10 per cent
and general property 80 per cent and
that the motor vehicles should foot
about one-third of the bill, or $40,
900 900 relieving general property of
this amount of taxes, is the outstand-
ing recommendation of the Legisla-
tive Committee of the Wisconsin
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
general property taxes and substitute
ing in their stead imposts on motor
vehicles:
The state general property tax
heretofore levied to meet the federal
aid. This would amount to $2,200,000
each year in the three year period be-
ginning next year.
The taxes levied by the counties
for maintenance Of roads. This
amounts to approximately $1,700,O0O
year. The full cost of maintenance
would be borne by the motor vehicle.
One-half the cost of maintaining
county organizations, 100000.
Surveys to locate road materials,
$25, 1000.
Roads in and to state parks, $4,000
State aid for roads and bridges,
1885, 1000 This is now taken from the
general fund.
In addition to eliminating these gen
eral property taxes, the committee
favors a change in the law so that
state trunk highways would be built
wholly with federal and state funds
and that counties would not be re-
CURED to pay a one-third share, as at
present. This would relieve the coun-
ties of raising S2,20O,O0O a year under
the increased federal aid available.
To take the place, of these taxes eli
mated and raise funds to continue the
road program, the committee recon-
mends the following.
A 2 per cent tax on the value Of
motor vehicles to be paid to the secre
tary of state and take the place of
the present personal property tax.
AS the average personal property
rate is .2S throughout the state this
would not increase the taxes of the
average personal property tax payer
The valuation of the cars would be
fixed by the secretary of state and
it is suggested that it be 80 per cent
Of the cost new the first year, 20 per-
cent the second year, so per cent the
third year.
A change in the, present motor
vehicle license law whereby instead
of a flat rate of $1,000 the rate
would be graded on the basis of SOC
hundred weight. Under this arrange,
ment Ford car would pay $500 and
the license would be graded upward
according to weight This is not an
additional impost but change in the
method of licensing
A considerable increase and gradu-
ated fee on heavy motor trucks and
buses, averaging 81 for every hun
dred weight of vehicle and of load.
The committee holds that these
vehicles are highly destructive of
road and should, in measurable de-
gree, pay part of the expense they
create, and that public sentiment de-
mands this increase.
lie ll1d4 40 q CeA<A
of &c a gallon on gasoline used in mot
or vehicles on highways, with a pro-
vision for a refund of the tax on gas
oline used for agricultural, manufac-
turing or other purposes. 1t is held
that gasoline consumption of motor
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 main
tenance and building Of our roads
whose use they enjoy.
A number of other recommends
tions are made regarding changes in
methods of handling the highway pro-
gram.