Locals Voice Concerns
Mark Drangstveit, a logger from Black River Falls, asked the committee to lift weight restrictions on bridges or to direct more cash to improve bridges to handle more than the 98,000-pound limit that is currently law. He said the current restrictions "are like putting a roadblock on every single highway in the state."
Dave Fish representing St. Joseph's Hospital spoke against the 1 percent gross revenue hospital tax. Fish said the budget's highest goal should be to help the poor, but said the tax is "not sufficent in looking at the long term viability and achievements of what needs to be done."
Neil Haselwander, a local realtor, voiced his opposition to the governor's boost to the real estate transfer fee, which he said would double the cost of the transfer fee on a $166,000 home from $500 to $1000. He said the transfer fee would stifle investment in the state.
Bob Sather of Ace Ethanol in Stanley spoke in support to the governor's renewable fuels initiatives in the budget, and said he believes the goal of having 25 percent of the state's energy come from renewable sources is achievable.
Labels: Chippewa_Falls_Meeting, ethanol, Hospital Assessment, Joint Committee on Finance, Real_Estate_Transfer_Fee, Transportation
