Attack on county?

State Rep. Dale Kooyenga’s tax and transportation overhaul plan may indeed have lots going for it, as the commentary below by Jay Miller explains. Simplifying and lowering taxes when circumstances allow is, in principle, always a good idea. His proposal deserves serious consideration by the Legislature and Gov. Scott Walker. But one piece of the plan leaves us perplexed, and undoubtedly leaves Milwaukee County leaders thinking they’re under attack from Madison.

The measure added to Kooyenga’s initial proposal would wipe out Milwaukee County’s $30 wheel tax — costing the county $7 million this year and $14 million next year — although the county could try to get it back in a referendum in 2018. The kicker is that the new rule applies only to Milwaukee County. The other 15 municipalities and four counties get to keep theirs, although any other new wheel taxes would be banned under the Assembly GOP plan.

How is that in any way fair? And why are Republicans, who often tout the virtues of local control, once again so blatantly removing control from a particular local government?

Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele told the Journal Sentinel that the surprise blow to this year’s budget “effectively cripples the county’s ability to connect thousands of workers and employers” and will impact transit services both in the city of Milwaukee and the suburbs. “Taking away Milwaukee County’s ability to generate its own revenue does nothing to solve the state’s budget problems,” Abele added.

Kooyenga told us the intent was not to hurt Milwaukee County, and pointed out that county voters overwhelmingly rejected a $60 wheel tax in the spring election. He added that he expects changes will be made in the bill. Good. We hope that one of those is the removal of this provision. The budget should not be used to take a political slap at the hard-working families of Milwaukee.