Chalk another one up for the tax hell. Someone is suggesting another tax for Milwaukee County, this time a $10 per car registration fee. I can hear it now… “But it’s only $10!”

Soon we will be paying more than half of our incomes to taxes. Who thinks of these things? This one is to help prop up the county bus system. According to the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

A $10-a-car countywide vehicle registration fee could be one of the best options for keeping the financially troubled Milwaukee County Transit System intact, the Public Policy Forum says in a report to be released Monday.

But the vehicle fee, also known as a “wheel tax,” would be only a short-term measure to hold the bus system together until state and local officials can agree on a longer-term solution, such as a local sales tax, local gas tax or major increase in state funding, the nonpartisan research organization says.

I have a better idea. How about if the cost of the bus system is paid by those who ride the buses? Why not assess each of them a $10 fee (or more) for the privilege of using the buses?

When will we let the market system work instead of pounding taxpayers to subsidize inefficient systems? If the bus riders really want the bus system, they can pay for it. The number and availability of the routes will be dictated by rules of supply and demand. But that would make too much sense.