Courts

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

Published

5 years ago

February 28, 2019

Brad Williams

AP file photo

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.

Brad Williams

A native of Prairie du Chien, Brad graduated from UW - La Crosse and has worked in radio news for more than 30 years, mostly in the La Crosse area. He regularly covers local courts and city and county government. Brad produces the features "Yesterday in La Crosse" and "What's Buried on Brad's Desk." He also writes the website "Triviazoids," which finds odd connections between events that happen on a certain date, and he writes and performs with the local comedy group Heart of La Crosse. Brad been featured on several national TV programs because of his memory skills.