Evers calls for gas tax changes, court reform in budget plan

What goes up will also come down, according to the Tony Evers plan for gas taxes in Wisconsin. 

In his budget message to the legislature Thursday night, Gov. Evers proposed an 8-cent-a-gallon increase in the gas tax, which was well below the $1-a-gallon hike former Gov. Scott Walker and others warned Evers might impose. 

But to balance that increase, Evers also offered a repeal of a ‘hidden tax’ of 14 cents a gallon under the state’s minimum markup law. 

Evers also would increase some vehicle title fees, but not the annual registration fee of $75 for most cars.

The governor also announced that 17 year olds will go back to being juveniles, instead of sometimes being transferred to the adult jails and courts.

Evers is proposing higher reimbursement for court-appointed attorneys, and the hiring of 25 more assistant district attorneys around Wisconsin.