SB 259

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

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.

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