Currently, communities rely on fares, property taxes and shrinking state and federal transit aids to fund transit systems. The declining base of revenues has hurt transit so that communities have had to increase fares and cut routes as demand for transit grows.
A segregated and dedicated source of revenue is needed for communities to grow transit system that meets residents’ needs and allows the economy of a community to prosper. A Regional Transit Authority with the ability to generate revenues through a sales tax increase can provide the funds needed for a healthy transit system. Only a limited number of communities in the state currently have the legal power to create RTAs. 1000 Friends advocates for broader authority to allow all communities in Wisconsin the ability to create RTAs.