AB 791

The Biennial Budget Act,

2009 Wisconsin Act 28

(Act 28), authorized the

creation of the Dane County regional transit authority (RTA), the Chippewa Valley

RTA, and the Chequamegon Bay RTA. Each RTA, once created, is a public body

corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity.

This bill authorizes the creation of a La Crosse County RTA. Under the bill, the

La Crosse County RTA is created if the governing body of La Crosse County adopts

a resolution authorizing the county to become a member of the RTA and the

resolution is ratified by the electors at a referendum held in La Crosse County. The

resolution must specify the number and composition of the RTA's board of directors

and, if a sales and use tax will be imposed by the RTA, the maximum rate of this tax.

Once created, the La Crosse County RTA consists of La Crosse County and all

municipalities located within La Crosse County. The jurisdictional area of this RTA

is the territorial boundaries of La Crosse County.

The provisions of current law, as created in Act 28, governing the powers and

duties of the Dane County RTA, the Chippewa Valley RTA, and the Chequamegon

Bay RTA also apply to the La Crosse County RTA. In brief, an RTA's authority is

vested in its board of directors and its bylaws govern its management, operations,

and administration. An RTA may: operate a transportation system or provide for

its operation by contracting with a public or private organization; impose, by its

board of directors adopting a resolution, a sales and use tax in the RTA's

jurisdictional area at a rate not exceeding 0.5 percent of the gross receipts or sales

price if certain conditions are satisfied; acquire property by condemnation; and issue

tax-exempt revenue bonds. An RTA has a duty to provide, or contract for the

provision of, transit service within the RTA's jurisdictional area. Rates and other

charges received by an RTA must be used only for the general expenses and capital

expenditures of the RTA, to pay interest, amortization, and retirement charges on

the RTA's revenue bonds, and for specific purposes of the RTA and may not be

transferred to any political subdivision.