The Milwaukee Common Council is going to vote on the idea of $20-per-year wheel tax. The measure thus far has a veto-proof majority, but it is only a one-vote margin and can change.

There is a lot wrong with the idea of taxing residents of such an impoverished city to subsidize streets for huge damage-causing trucks from elsewhere. It is obvious, though, that something needs to be done. City streets are becoming increasingly dangerous because of their poor condition.

Is this the best fix there is? Certainly it would be better if some of the billions the state is going to throw away on unneeded freeway expansion were redirected to local governments for needed street repairs and reconstruction. The land use group 1000 Friends of Wisconsin reported last year  that Milwaukee County residents spend $180 million per year on road projects that are eligible for state aid, but that aren’t getting the aid because the state is spending the money elsewhere — on big highway projects.

The state needs to set some new priorities.