Sen. Scott Fitzgerald seeks other funding source for Wisconsin's roads

MADISON - The leader of the state Senate said he was considering using income and sales tax money to help pay for highways instead of raising the gas tax. 

Senate Majority Leader Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau) told reporters Friday he remains skeptical of raising the gas tax, but said he is interested in transferring money from the state's main account to increase road funding. 

The idea would put more money toward roads while avoiding a fight over the gas tax that has already divided Republicans who control state government. But transportation advocates and some Assembly Republicans say they believe the best way to keep highway funding stable is to provide it with a dedicated funding source. 

The state's general fund is made up of collections from income taxes and sales taxes and is used to fund a host of programs, including schools and health care. The transportation fund consists primarily of collections from gas taxes and vehicle registration fees. 

Using general fund money for roads would mean lawmakers would likely have to reduce increases for other programs that have been proposed by Gov. Scott Walker. Fitzgerald said he wanted to learn more about spending at University of Wisconsin schools, particularly after a lawsuit was filed over how UW-Oshkosh funded building projects. 

"That was a very alarming article," Fitzgerald told reporters. "I've talked to a couple different members who are saying, 'What's going on?'

"Just when you start to feel a little more comfortable about what's going on with UW, something like this emerges and it kind of once again rattles you."

On transportation, he said he has not yet talked to his caucus about using general funds for roads. He said he hoped to talk to Assembly Speaker Robin Vos (R-Rochester) about it next week. 

Amid the highway funding crunch, the Department of Transportation this week canceled two studies of expanding I39/90/94 between Madison and the Wisconsin Dells. The studies have cost $3.5 million so far, according to the DOT. 

The expansion has long found support from Wisconsin Dells because of the area's heavy reliance on tourism. 

“To spend close to $3.5 million based on a clear need that has been long identified and then pull the plug can only be described as wasteful," said a statement from Tom Diehl, the president of the Association of Wisconsin Tourism Attractions. 

DOT spokeswoman Patty Mayers said work from the studies would still have value as the department considers how to replace bridges on the interstate. 

"The cancellation of these two studies makes sense for us at this time," she said in a written statement. "This resulted from a directive by Secretary (David) Ross for the department to conduct a thorough review and reevaluation of projects in an effort to better prioritize them and take care of our most pressing needs."

Walker has said he is opposed to raising the gas tax, while Assembly Republicans have called for putting $300 million toward highways over the next two years. 

The Department of Transportation warned in a January memo that there is a "tidal wave" of costly, critical projects that cannot be delayed forever. Walker has said he is seeking a review to determine if transportation projects can be done for less.