Authorizing the creation of a Fox Cities regional transit authority and making appropriations

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.

This bill authorizes the creation of a Fox Cities RTA, with the same powers and authority as provided other RTAs under 2009 Act 28 . Under the bill, the Fox Cities RTA is created if the governing body of any two or more municipalities located in whole or in part within the urbanized Fox Cities metropolitan planning area (planning area) adopt a resolution authorizing the municipality to become a member of the RTA and each resolution is ratified by the electors at a referendum held in the municipality. Each resolution must also include an identical provision specifying the number and composition of the RTA's board of directors, and all directors must be elected officials of one or more of the RTA's participating political subdivisions. After the Fox Cities RTA is created, any municipality located in whole or in part within the planning area, and any municipality within the counties of Outagamie, Calumet, or Winnebago that is outside the planning area, may also join the RTA if the governing body of the municipality adopts a resolution to join the RTA, the resolution is ratified by the electors at a referendum held in the municipality, and the board of directors of the RTA approves. The jurisdictional area of the Fox Cities RTA is the geographic area encompassing the combined territorial boundaries of all municipalities creating or joining the RTA.

The provisions of 2009 Act 28 are recreated to establish the powers and duties of the Fox Cities RTA. In brief, the RTA's authority is vested in its board of directors and its bylaws govern its management, operations, and administration. The 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 sales price if certain conditions are satisfied; acquire property by condemnation; and issue tax-exempt revenue bonds. The 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 the 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.