Dairy Business Association Praises Department of Transportation’s Budget Request

Green Bay, Wisconsin --- The Dairy Business Association (DBA) commends the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Transportation Secretary Mark Gottlieb for the agency’s creative and forward thinking budget request.

The state’s current transportation needs far outpace the revenue generated from existing sources of transportation funding. The DOT proposals are expected to generate approximately $750 million in additional transportation funding over the course of the two-year budget cycle.

“I think we all recognize that the current funding formula is not sustainable,” said Laurie Fischer, DBA’s Director of Dairy Policy. “Revenue from gas taxes continues to fall while the cost of maintaining our vital infrastructure continues to rise. This proposal is an important first step in putting our transportation priorities back on track without having to rely on simply borrowing to complete road projects,” continued Fischer.

The dairy industry relies on well-constructed roads to conduct business. Addressing our transportation funding challenges is essential if Wisconsin agriculture is to continue to grow. “We hope that Secretary Gottlieb and everyone involved in the budgetary discussions do not forget about rural town and county roads,” said DBA President Jerry Meissner. “Local governments face an uphill battle in funding road maintenance, let alone new road construction projects. Dairy farmers like me must have quality rural roads in order to get our milk to consumers,” Meissner explained. “This new funding should fund road projects across the entire sate.”

“This past summer, I attended a panel discussion between legislators, local government leaders, and farmers dealing with the issue of rural infrastructure,” said John Holevoet, DBA Government Affairs Associate. “Everyone agreed there was a problem, but nobody was sure what the solution was. This proposal has real potential,” he said. “It points the way toward sustainable transportation funding for all of our roads, rural and urban.”

About DBA: The Dairy Business Association is an industry organization comprised of dairy producers, corporate as well as allied industry supporters. DBA promotes the growth and success of all dairy farms in Wisconsin by fostering a positive business and political environment. For more information about DBA, please visit our website at www.widba.com.

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