Authorizing the creation of a Chippewa Valley regional transit authority and making appropriations. (FE)

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. With respect to the Chippewa Valley RTA, Act 28 included partial vetoes of provisions that would have required a referendum before the Chippewa Valley RTA could be created or impose a sales and use tax.

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 restores authorization to create the Chippewa Valley RTA, with essentially the same powers and authority as provided under 2009 Act 28 , except that the bill imposes the referendum requirements that were partially vetoed in Act 28. Also unlike Act 28, under the bill, if the Chippewa Valley RTA imposes a sales and use tax, a member of the RTA may not levy property taxes for transit purposes greater than the property taxes levied for transit purposes in the year before the RTA's sales and use tax is imposed.