The November general election is fast approaching. Wisconsin voters will select a new legislature and there’s also a race for governor. When these elected officials take office in January, they will have to tackle some pressing issues, including transportation finance, a slow-growing economy, and rising fiscal pressure on schools and local governments.
In a state where government spends almost $35 billion per year, whom we elect as governor and to the legislature matters. A big decision point is fast approaching, with the November general election slated for the 4th. Needless to say, it is time for voters to do some homework.
While partisan exchanges remain emotional and superficial, informed voting requires a more thorough look at the key issues facing Wisconsin.
Some of these issues are all too familiar: state funding of K-12 schools, sluggish job growth, and transportation funding. Others, like population trends and state debt, are rarely discussed in the mainstream media. Here, important topic areas are explored and possible questions voters might ask candidates are included.
TRANSPORTATION
Wisconsin, like many states and the nation, faces a transportation funding problem. Financing highways and other modes of transportation relies heavily on gas taxes and vehicle registration fees, two revenue sources with little growth potential. Funding transportation here has been further hampered by past use of supposedly segregated transportation revenues to fill general fund budget gaps.