In a breathtaking display of arrogance and contempt for local taxpayers, the new Southeastern Wisconsin Regional Transit Authority (SERTA) scheduled a vote to adopt an $18 car-rental tax in Milwaukee, Racine and Kenosha counties, on the Friday before Christmas.

With only four days notice, SERTA staff circulated an ambitious agenda for what would be only the second meeting of the new unelected board. According to the documents dated December 14, 2009, the SERTA board would elect officers, adopt bylaws and consider implementing the new $18 tax on car rentals. Their rationale for attempting to levy this tax prior to having an authorized plan to build transit infrastructure included:

• $1 million for staff to operate a transit authority with no transit.
• $46,000 a month ($500,000/year) for a public relations firm to
   work on behalf of a transit authority with no transit.
• Incentive Grants designed to bribe local governments into supporting
  the KRM commuter rail line.
• A bank of surplus funds to convince the federal government that
  Wisconsin is financially solvent enough to build and maintain
   commuter rail. 

Thankfully the board declined to adopt the $18 tax—which would have represented a 900 percent increase over the previous levy. It also declined to reinstate the old $2 tax that had been deleted in a legislative “oops!” as state lawmakers crafted the taxing authority as part of the 2009-11 state budget bill.

Conservative talk radio and Wisconsin Club for Growth advocacy phone calls suggested voters hold their elected officials accountable for the way their appointees voted on last week’s tax hike. Complaints by elected officials’ to the press made it clear they were feeling the heat.

While the rejection of even a $2 car rental tax is a great gift for taxpayers, no doubt the New Year will bring renewed efforts to stick to it Wisconsin taxpayers. Not to worry, Wisconsin Club for Growth will be there with bells on!