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A new poll shows there’s no clear consensus among Wisconsin voters on how the state should deal with a projected $939 million shortfall in the transportation fund.
The latest Marquette University Law School poll asked voters whether the state should deal with the shortfall by raising taxes and fees to pay for current road projects, by cutting spending, or by borrowing more money. The results gave tax and fee hikes a slight at edge at 43 percent, while 33 percent favored cutting projects and 12 percent said the state should borrow money.
Broken down by party, a majority of Republicans said the state should cut projects, while Democrat backed tax and fee hikes. Voters of both parties put borrowing as their last choice.
The results show a clear divide on an issue that is likely to dominate budget talks in the state next spring. Governor Scott Walker has said he opposes raising taxes and fees to pay for roads, unless the increases are offset by tax cuts in other areas. Several Republican legislative leaders have countered that it’s short-sighted to already rule out options to increase revenue, while indicating that additional borrowing is not an option that’s likely to see support among lawmakers.
