WisDOT has been reaching out to it’s stakeholders in an effort to make them aware of a potential $450 user fee being implemented for clients accessing the WISCORS (Wisconsin Continuously Operating Reference Station) network.
The construction of the WISCORS network was funded through federal and state funds but in order to service, update and replace equipment, hardware, and software on an ongoing basis, the State Legislature authorized WisDOT to charge a Systems Maintenance Fee (Wis. Stat. s. 85.63 Surveying Reference Station System). The Systems Maintenance Fee is expected to go into effect after the Administrative Rule has been completed in State FY 17 (July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017).
WisDOT indicated the WISCORS Maintenance Fee would be based on $305,000 for annual equipment maintenance and $49,500 for an annual billing system, totaling $354,500 annually. To offset this, WisDOT would be looking at an annual user fee of $450 per customer assuming 35% of the 2000+ current customers register for the system.
Currently, WisDOT is asking users to complete their WISCORS Stakeholder Questionnaire to help them decide how to administer the Systems Maintenance Fee for the WISCORS network.
For additional questions, contact Jacob Rockweiler.