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Resident urges half-cent sales tax for countywide transit and raises paratransit concerns
Summary
A Kenosha County resident called during public comment for a half-cent sales tax to fund regional transit and to sustain paratransit services after a local provider announced service termination; he cited regional planning commission warnings about transit funding.
Raymond Cameron, a Kenosha County resident, used the Human Services Committee public-comment period to urge officials to consider a half-cent county sales tax to fund public transit and paratransit services.
Cameron said he previously served as a transit commissioner and described how a regional planning agency has warned that transit agencies need additional revenue sources. "So that was pretty much my reason and intent is to advocate for this half cent sales tax because I think for transit county wide, we don't think it would really, benefit this whole town and city and the various, you know, municipalities or town and the needs, in this county," he said on the record.
He said a local provider had notified the city and county it would stop providing paratransit service, prompting short-term funding decisions by city staff to hire part-time drivers through Dec. 31. Cameron said the county should plan for longer-term funding so seniors, people with disabilities and low-income residents can access work and education without owning a vehicle.
Cameron also referenced regional discussion about a rail extension and said Racine had decided to participate with Kenosha and Milwaukee in pursuing the extension. He urged officials to consider sales-tax revenue as a means to shore up transit funding countywide.
The remarks were made during the committee's citizen-comment period and did not prompt committee action at that meeting.
