My two cents worth is below. One thing I didn't mention, but always bugs me, is the idea that commuters benefit Madison by simply spending money. Yes, that's true, businesses benefit from customers, so the owners and employees are getting income, which is then distributed in the local economy - the multiplier effect. But the CITY doesn't get this money, except in very indirect property taxes from more valuable property at these businesses. The CITY doesn't get income taxes or sales taxes, yet pays for the roads and other public infrastructure that makes the commute safe and easy: snow plowing, road maintenance, street lighting and traffic signals, police protection, curb and gutter to handle water, etc.
Perhaps an economist can figure out if my thinking is wrong on this, but it seems the central cities in Wisconsin support far more services for outside commuters than the commuters bring in by spending money. (And I use Wisconsin specifically because other parts of the country often allow municipalities to levy sales taxes. It seems cities here only get this via hotel taxes.) [start comment] I am a bicyclist that will use the North Sherman bike lanes (I don't live on the north side, so haven't been up there yet, although I did use the full traffic lane on Sherman when I went previously.) I also own a car, so pay gas taxes, licensing, and registration. But most importantly, as pointed out by the previous post, I pay property taxes, and plenty of them. That is how the new configuration was funded, and I am thrilled to see my property taxes used in such a way instead of yet another road expansion - often also funded with local property taxes. The people that do NOT pay for these local road expansions and maintenance are the people who live outside Madison and drive in every day. Madison taxpayers are funding great, fast, comfortable driving for people that live in Waunakee, Mt. Horeb, Cottage Grove, Oregon, and every other commuter burg. When will they pitch in for the accommodations they use every day and the danger and pollution they create for those of us that live here? Robbie
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