Fee hike in car registration, driver's licenses proposed

The proposal to increase license and registration fees only emphasizes the government waste of money.
The Department of Transportation has issues with fund management.
Statistics show an increased use of automated service machines, including advances allowing self-registration for services. It's unconscionable that the DOT hasn't followed suit.
Basic investments in technology (i.e. automated registration) could relieve taxpayers from increased costs. We should note that 'customer service' hasn't been a DOT value statement. It's obvious that taxpayers expect no service from our DMV offices. Noone is content waiting in line for poor treatment from overpaid government workers who somehow think they're in a library.
It's interesting to note, too, that, in Wisonsin, electronic transactions actually result in extra fees to taxpayers.
The question I pose to taxpayers is: Should the Wisconsin DOT be allowed to increase fees when there has been no evidence of cost-saving efficiency improvements?

I have been treated very well at our local DMV office. It's not their fault there are lines--if the state would hire enough staff to serve the customers, there wouldn't be the lines. And if you think privatizing would save us money--think again. The cost would be the same if not more but the workers would get paid less with less benefits--the difference would be the profit for the comapany. Privatizing was actually shown to cost more in a DOT analysis and the state employee that released that memo was demoted for spilling the beans. Rather than complaining about the so called overpaid government workers (we're not)why not work to get everyone else earning a decent wage wtih benefits. No one ever complains about Brett Farve's wages yet we, the taxpayerrs paid for the stadium he works in. You think he and the other well paid players could've coughed up a little.

I always register my vehicles online. The additional cost(service fee)goes to a private comapny, not the state.

Most if not all of the road construction work is already done by private contractors. And hidden in those cost are the campaign contributions and company profits. I'm not saying the government should get into the road construction business but keep in mind that that is where the majority of our registration and gas taxes go.

I have to say, we got a new DOT building down here in Kenosha and it is almost painless. I used to dread going to the DMV almost as much as the dentist. As they built the new one i thought, "cool now we have 2" i was wrong as they closed the old one. Before one complains about a hike in fee's take a look at what other states are paying.
I agree the customer service absolutely sucks but at what tax payer paid government office doesnt suck? These people tend to forget they are public servants paid by We The People, not the government who signs the checks.
About the road construction crews....Nothing makes me madder than driving by a road crew and seeing they are from Illinois. Wisconsin tax payer money being sent by the state to Illinois. Surely we dont want our road systems to end up like theirs....

Compared to most other states we are paying way less to begin with.

The WI DOT just reinvented their computer system. I know this because they told me when I last registered a new-used vehicle. They told me that because of the way the new system operates, the plate renewal will not be always at the end of the month anymore. It can be any day in the month now. One of the reasons they did this is because they wanted to back date the first year renewal a whole month. The first year renewal is only for 11 months now instead of 12.

By the way....thank God Doyle is reelected. He isn't for the increases at all. I'm so glad he's in office. He's the only guy that watches other people's money like it was their last cent.

What doe it matter what other states are paying-Doyle riaded the road fund to balance the budget. He says that there are no taxes being increased but now coincidently after the election there is a significant fee hike. I don't buy it. Sconny has like the 5th highest taxes in the nation, I think there could be a way of finding money if the DOT is really 'hurting' for cash.

Doyle was for higher taxes until Green ran on a tax freeze platform and all of the sudden mr soon to be indicted changed his platform

Cobra wrote:

What doe it matter what other states are paying-Doyle riaded the road fund to balance the budget. He says that there are no taxes being increased but now coincidently after the election there is a significant fee hike. I don't buy it. Sconny has like the 5th highest taxes in the nation, I think there could be a way of finding money if the DOT is really 'hurting' for cash.
Doyle was for higher taxes until Green ran on a tax freeze platform and all of the sudden mr soon to be indicted changed his platform

It matters what other states are paying for a comparision. When is the last time that our rates did go up? Im not saying there should be a huge increase. But they need to go up to keep up with normal inflation and they havn't been doing that.

You might have something there. Little rate hikes more frequently are easier to handle than one big, huge, catch-up hike.

However, wages are going down in Wisconsin. People are finding their jobs going elsewhere. Look at Menards. I don't know what their big problem is. They're moving to Minnesota all of a sudden. And Harley-Davidson...they wanted to skip town until the workers said they'd willingly get ripped off just to have a job. I'm sorry, but when people's wages aren't keeping up, then ANY hike is too much.

Concerned - from other IP wrote:

Compared to most other states we are paying way less to begin with.

Way less of what? Taxes? Nope - we're in the top 10. Are our roads any better? Nope. And with the dire financial situation Wisconsin - and most other states as well - finds itself, not only will taxes continue to rise on a state-wide basis, but locally as well. We are a nation of UN-represented taxation. What's the answer? WE ARE. Unless we, the citizens, express our outrage by attending city council meetings, voting unresponsive representatives out of our state and federal houses, MAKING WAVES, it will continue to be the same --- more money paid, less received.

Doyle raids it raises taxes in it again so hes has more to get the next time and borrows to build roads so we pay in twice. the rob Peter to pay Paul idea and he gets relectded