By Mayor Gary Becker | Posted: Saturday, November 15, 2008 12:00 am
In going through my morning papers on Tuesday, I read two articles, seemingly unrelated, that actually speak to our future. One article was the RTA recommendation to fund local buses and commuter rail. The other article was an editorial in the Chicago Tribune talking about Chicago being ranked the 8th most vital global city.
Where do these two articles intersect? The proposal to extend commuter rail from Kenosha to Milwaukee enables Racine to tie itself tighter to one of the world's top cities and the wealth and jobs that are created there.
The world of the 1950s through the end of the last century is over. The days when you could grow up in a city like Racine, go to school, get a family supporting job at any number of great companies, enjoy a comfortable life without leaving the city except for a week or two each summer going to the Dells, up north or on an annual family trip, are over.
The world has changed. Racine is now part of the Milwaukee region, the Southeast Wisconsin region, the Chicago region or even the Great Lakes region. Cities no longer stand alone. We are more vibrant by being near Chicago and Chicago is more vital by being surrounded and strengthened by communities like Racine.
The other article was the RTA voting to recommend a dedicated sales tax to fund transit in Racine/Kenosha/Milwaukee counties. This funding source would pay for all current costs of transit east of I-94 in Racine County. The RTA recommendation requires a mandatory property tax reduction equal to what is currently being spent.
This would result in a property tax reduction in the City of Racine of $1,108,419, in Mount Pleasant $175,000, Caledonia $33,000 and Sturtevant $53,000.
This dedicated sales tax would not only allow us to maintain our current bus service, but also to enhance service where the service plan calls for it. A community wide service plan would be developed to meet the needs as identified in public meetings.
In addition, to improve bus and handicap service, this recommendation would supply local funding to enable the KRM commuter rail plan to go forward.
Commuter rail is an investment in our future. Rail ties us closer to Milwaukee, Chicago and all points in between. This opens up employment, educational and cultural opportunities to our citizens. Commuter rail also opens a pool of talent for our local companies to recruit from to keep their business growing.
We have been discussing commuter rail for nearly 30 years. Now is the time for Gov. Doyle and the Legislature to authorize the RTA to implement their recommendations.
This plan will result in improved bus service, improved specialized ride service for people with special needs and will move the implementation of KRM commuter rail service forward. The recommendation would also result in a property tax reduction; mandated by law.
It is easy to talk the talk of regionalism, but this proposal will see if southeast Wisconsin and this community will walk the walk.
Gary Becker is mayor of the city of Racine.