Wisconsin Officials Endorse Local “Wheel Tax”
Some communities in Wisconsin are considering the addition of a new vehicle registration tax to offset the increasing cost of road repairs and maintenance.
The vehicle registration fee, known as the wheel tax, was recently proposed by the county administrator in Chippewa County as a solution to help keep the roads clear of snow.
The county highway department in Chippewa Falls said snow removal during back-to-back winters has put the department close to half a million dollars over budget.
Cities in Wisconsin with the wheel tax already in place pay an additional $10 annually per vehicle but the cities of Milwaukee, Janesville and Beloit collect a $20 a year wheel tax, although there is no limit on how high the tax can be.
Appleton city officials will vote later this month on whether or not to adopt a $20 per vehicle wheel tax, which would not apply to large trucks. The money would be used to replace assessment fees and would not increase taxes in other areas, according to officials.
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