Panel seeks gas tax hike, mileage fee

The state is looking for ways to pay for future road construction projects, and other transportation needs, and a special panel has a series of suggestions.

The 10-member transportation finance and policy commission issued its preliminary report today. It includes a possible five-cent increase in the gas tax, and a new mileage-based registration fee for cars and trucks.

Rep. Penny Bernard Schaber is a member of the Assembly's transportation committee. The Appleton Democrat says she needs to take a closer look at the possibilities, before she decides which ones she could support.

The proposed mileage-based system would charge people 1.02 cents for every mile they drive, up to 20,000. The first 3,000 miles would be free, in part to account for out-of-state travel, and the maximum charge would be $204. That would be on top of the regular annual vehicle registration fee.

Bernard Schaber says other state are also studying that option. She says they have to find a way to make sure the state's roads don't deteriorate, but they also have to do that in a cost-effective manner.

The commission also wants to give local governments the power to create regional transit authorities, and a half-cent sales tax, if voters agree.