Former GOP Governor Tommy Thompson did a little divide-and-conquer schtick a few years ago up North to raise support for the Miller Park sales tax by urging outstate legislators to stick it to Milwaukee.
Your right-wing, fiscally slippery GOP Governor who piously says he'll never raise a Wisconsin tax (though he already did) could do Thompson one better by raising many DNR fees - - just he did last year while ending taxpayer support for park operations - - and by adding a few more for, say, walking in a state park or canoeing a stream:
Your right-wing, fiscally slippery GOP Governor who piously says he'll never raise a Wisconsin tax (though he already did) could do Thompson one better by raising many DNR fees - - just he did last year while ending taxpayer support for park operations - - and by adding a few more for, say, walking in a state park or canoeing a stream:
A] 46-page DNR report also discusses imposing new fees on so-called silent sports:
• Registration fees could be charged to canoeists, kayakers and paddleboarders to help pay for boat launches. About 18,000 already voluntarily pay an $11 fee, but an estimated 335,000 nonmotorized boats are on the water each year.
• Admission fees could be assessed for use of 600 state wildlife, fishery and natural areas. Hikers, cross-country skiers and others who don't hold hunting or fishing licenses now benefit from fees without contributing...
Walker said he is mulling another park fees boost in the $5 to $10 range.What's next? An air breathing charge, since the DNR has to do some air quality monitoring.