Friday, April 15, 2011

Appleton Mayor Mark Hanna on State Support for a Regional Transit Authority: "...and they even happen to be Republicans."


Creation of regional transit authority could help Valley Transit with budget woes. (Appleton Post-Crescent, 4/15/2011)

Excerpt: Valley Transit officials say the creation of a regional transit authority could help the public transportation system solve its budgetary puzzle.

If a regional transit authority existed, it could choose to raise money through a sales tax increase.

Transit officials last year estimated that an increase of half a percent would help make up Valley Transit's annual loss of $1.5 million, starting in late 2012 or in 2013.

Democrats finished the legislative session last year without taking up a bill that would have allowed for the creation of regional transit authorities in various parts of the state. The measure can be taken up this session if Republicans so choose.

Mayor Tim Hanna thinks the idea of a regional transit authority remains a possibility.

"I know there are still some people interested in that down in Madison. We may be pursuing that," Hanna said on Thursday. "We talked to some legislators who are interested, and they even happen to be Republicans
."

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