Barron County board backs WCA push for sustainable transportation funding after rejecting amendment on user fees

The Barron County Board of Supervisors voted Feb. 16 to endorse a Wisconsin Counties Association (WCA) resolution calling for sustainable transportation funding, after the board rejected an amendment that would have struck language urging adjustments to new and existing transportation user fees.

A supervisor who identified themself as chairman of the Town of Dover moved to remove the clause because the state, the supervisor said, was sitting on a large surplus and it would be inappropriate to push new or higher user fees onto residents. "I don't I don't see any guidelines there, and I don't think I'm in favor of that when the state is sitting on a a $2,000,000,000 excess of surplus," the supervisor said during debate.

The amendment failed on a 6–20 vote, with 3 members absent. Chair defended the WCA text as intentionally broad and said the association is "trying to not to tell the legislature what to do. They're just, throwing out options," arguing the resolution gives counties a unified set of options to present to lawmakers.

Supporters of the resolution emphasized that counties face persistent funding challenges for roads and bridges and that WCA's statement aims to press the Legislature for steadier, longer‑term funding. Opponents warned that urging automatic adjustments to user fees without clearer guardrails could shift costs to residents while a state surplus remains.

The resolution—developed by the Wisconsin Counties Association and circulated to all 72 counties—was adopted by a roll call vote of 23 yes, 3 no and 3 absent. The board did not adopt the amendment that would have removed the user‑fee language (6 yes, 20 no, 3 absent).

The board's action sends the WCA resolution as a formal expression of Barron County's position to state lawmakers. No specific legislative mechanism or local fee change was adopted by the board during the meeting.