Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-05-17
Good Roads Association
Wants Traffic to Pay
CANNON TELLS HOW 1T is PRO-
POSED TO RAISE THE HIGH
WAY FUNDS

To make clear the method proposed
by the legislature to raise highway
funds, it is well to state how highway
funds are raised at the present time.
Firstly, so far as federal aid is con-
cerned. In the past three years we
have met the federal aid. which
amounted to $1,7OO,OOO a year. by a
general property tax levied on the
entire state. This state and federal
fund was distributed among the coun-
ties on the basis of their area. assess
ed valuation, and rural highway mile
age. In addition to that the counties
were required to raise an amount
equal to SO per cent of the funds they
received.
Thus the state highway construc-
tionfund came from three sources:
$1,7OO,OOO from the federal govern
ment; $1,70O,OOO general property
tax raised by the state; and $1,7OO,0OO
general property tax raised by the
counties; a total of $5,1OO,0OO
Under the state aid law $7S5.OOO
was taken from the general fund each
year and distributed among the coun-
ties as state aid. The general fund is
made up of moneys paid in taxes by
the railroad companies, insurance com
panies, public utility companies, in
heritance taxes, etc. This aid was al
lotted to the counties on 1880 basis
the state making $7S5,OOO available
and the county little over ST, 100000
the latter raised by county gener-
al property tax.
100000 was taken from the general
fund for the building Of large bridges
such as those across the Wisconsin
River
The cost Of administration of the
highway department was taken from
the automobile license and also the
cost of administration Of the secretary
of states office. The automobile IL
cense fees in round numbers last year
amounted to $4,OOOO0O. After deduct
ing the secretary of states cast of
maintenance amounting to about 5000,
600 one-fourth Of the balance was re
a,urned to the eouities for the main
tenance of county r, eds, on the basis
OF their contribution to tn fund
There was then deducted s1Ro. 900 for
overhead of the state highway de
partins Mt and ag. balance was allog-
tea tosthe ~essSAsias by the state for
state trunk highway maintenance.
Under the proposed highway legis-
lation, the federal aid of $2,2OG,000
would be met by funds obtained from
imposts on motor vehicles and the
state general property tax for this
purpose wiped out. The requirement
that the counties contribute would be
entirely eliminated and the state
trunks built with federal and state
funds Instead Of taking the state aid
of $785,0OO from the general fund, this
would be taken from the motor web
icle licenses. The special fund for
bridges would be increased to $125,
900 and instead Of being taken from
the general fund, it would be met by
imposts on motor vehicles The sum
of $4,000 would be allotted for roads
in and to state parks and $4,000 for
surveys to locate highway materials.
Under this plan, therefore, a state
general property tax would be elimi-
mated, county general property tax
would be eliminated, and the sum of
$885,000 would be left in the general
fund to be utilized for other purposes
The automobile fund would raise mon
ey to meet the federal aid, provide the
state aid and the bridge fund.
All the bills propose to add $500
miles to the state trunk highway sys-
tenn, relieving the counties of that bur
den of maintenance.
The whole theory of the new 1egis-
lation is to relieve the general prop
erty tax and have the motor vehicle
pay a larger share of road construc-
ton and maintenance. The automo-
bile license fees would be distributed
back to the counties practically as
they are now-By F. A. Cannon, Elk
ecutive Secretary of Good Roads AS
sociation of Wisconsin.