Authorizing the creation of a Southeast Regional Transit Authority and making appropriations. (FE)

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 Southeast RTA, with the same powers and authority as provided to RTAs under 2009 Act 28 . Under the bill, the counties of Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee may join together to jointly create the Southeast RTA if the governing body of each county adopts a resolution authorizing the county to become a member of the RTA, each resolution is ratified by the electors at a referendum held in the county, and the resolutions of all of these counties are identical. Resolutions creating the Southeast RTA must include provisions specifying the number and composition of the RTA's board of directors. The jurisdictional area of the RTA is the geographic area formed by the combined territorial boundaries of the counties of Kenosha, Racine, and Milwaukee.

This bill recreates the provisions of 2009 Act 28 to establish the powers and duties of the Southeast 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 1) operate a transportation system or provide for its operation by contracting with a public or private organization; 2) impose, by its board of directors adopting a resolution, a sales and use tax in the RTA's jurisdictional area at a rate, in one-tenth increments, not exceeding 0.5 percent of the sales price if certain conditions are satisfied; 3) acquire property by condemnation; and 4) issue tax-exempt revenue bonds. The Southeast 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 Southeast 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 county.