MADISON, Wis. -- One of the proposals in Gov. Jim Doyle's newly unveiled state budget plan would impact Dane County directly, reviving a commuter rail project in the area as well as a higher sales tax.

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A plan for a light-rail system was derailed last year when a federal application for money was rejected. The governor's budget plan, though, could put the idea back on track, WISC-TV reported.

The sight of a light-rail train chugging through the area is a sight that many Dane County leaders said that they want to see. Now, it seems commuter rail once again has a fighting chance thanks to the governor's budget plan.

Scott McDonell, chair of the Dane County Board of Supervisors, said that the inclusion of the project in the governor's proposal to the state Legislature is wind in their sails.

"It was great news for Dane County," McDonell said. "This was the stumbling block for us in our application to the federal government for new start funding for commuter rail. So, now that we have a way to pay the ongoing expenses of a new system, we can put our application back into the federal government."

The governor's proposed budget would allow the metro area of Dane County to create a regional transit authority. The measure would pay for transit options in the county, including bus systems or commuter rail, by imposing a half-cent sales tax.

"This gives us the ability to do regional transportation," McDonell said. "That could be for buses, that could be for rail. We're not going to move forward on a new rail system without federal money and that's not always easy to get. But clearly, this is a boon to transit and this community either way."

Not all county officials are enthusiastic about the plan. Board Supervisor Duane Gau, of Sun Prairie, said that he dislikes the idea of a regional transit authority.

"From my standpoint, if we start creating an RTA, all we're going to do, it gives government another chance to build another layer of taxation," he said.

The proposal gives the county board the power to decide whether to create an RTA. County leaders agree it should first go to voters through a referendum, and some who think commuter rail isn't the best option say the voters might agree, WISC-TV reported.

"In today's economy, with today's taxes on top of us and where we're sitting today, I'd love to see us go to referendum because I don't think this county would vote for an increased tax system and a half a percent sales tax for commuter rail or an increased bus system," Gau said. "I think they'll tell us straight out, 'We can't afford it right now.'"

The RTA wouldn't affect all of Dane County -- just the parts in the metropolitan planning area. This would leave out communities like Mount Horeb or the village of Oregon.

In his overall budget plan, the governor resisted calls for a statewide sales tax hike. He said he supported putting the question to local officials as it gives communities an option. The areas that have requested RTAs can impose the sales tax hike. If those areas decide -- or have voters direct officials not to do it -- they don't have to, WISC-TV reported.

Stay tuned to WISC-TV and Channel 3000 for continuing coverage.