AB 298

The 2009 Biennial Budget Act (

2009 Act 28

) authorized the creation of several

regional transit authorities (RTAs): the Dane County RTA, the Chippewa Valley

RTA, and the Chequamegon Bay RTA. Under

2009 Act 28

, each RTA, once created,

is a public body corporate and politic and a separate governmental entity. An RTA's

authority is vested in its board of directors, and its bylaws govern its management,

operations, and administration. Among its powers, 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.

The 2011 Biennial Budget Act (

2011 Act 32

) eliminated authorization to create

an RTA and dissolved the Dane County RTA, the Chippewa Valley RTA, and the

Chequamegon Bay RTA to the extent previously created, as of September 28, 2011.

This bill restores authorization to create a Dane County RTA, with the same

powers and authority as provided under

2009 Act 28

. However, the bill also requires

that the Dane County RTA hold a referendum in the RTA's jurisdictional area, after

board approval of the RTA's imposition of a sales and use tax, before the RTA may

impose the sales and use tax in its jurisdictional area.