Latest news with #wheelTax
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
State urges Boone and other counties to enact wheel tax
The State of Indiana is encouraging county and city governments to impose a new wheel tax. Any county, city, or town with a population of 5,000 or more can enact a wheel tax and excise surtax, but only about 54 of the state's 92 counties and about a dozen cities have, Boone County Highway Director Nick Parr told the county council this week. Changes in the tax laws this year created a significant reduction in the $1.5 million in grant money that is usually available to the county for road and bridge maintenance and replacements. And the state has set aside millions of dollars for direct distributions to municipalities and counties, but only if they have the excise and wheel taxes, which must be adopted together. Boone County payers don't pay either tax at present. The county would have to enact the taxes by Sept. 1 for it to take effect in January. According to Purdue University, the tax would apply to passenger vehicles, trucks, motorcycles, motor drive cycles (mopeds), trailers, collector vehicles, mini trucks, buses, semi-tractors, semi-trailers, and RVs. Allowable rates per conveyance range from a minimum of $5 to a maximum of $80 and would be paid annually through the Bureau of Motor Vehicles. The change in tax law and road funding is expected to prompt the majority of Hoosier counties to adopt the taxes, and the pool of funds will be spread thinner. But the county could lose $876,000 in state funds annually without the tax, according to a conservative estimate, Parr said. Parr did not ask the council to adopt the taxes, he just updated them on the situation. Council President Jennifer Hostetter thanked him for tracking changes in the tax laws this year and how they may affect the county. Planning money Also on Tuesday, the council approved of Hostetter signing a joint letter with Boone County Commissioners President Scott Pell asking the state to pay for a new county comprehensive plan at a cost of up to $400,000. A comprehensive plan is a written document that guides officials and citizens on the use of land, among other issues, according to the county website. Boone County's plan will establish rules for future growth for unincorporated land. Officials will seek public input in developing it. Counties usually update comprehensive plans every six or so years, county attorney Beth Copeland told the council. Boone County's plan is 16 years old, and the Indiana Economic Development Corp. recently began developing thousands of acres for LEAP Lebanon Innovation and Research District on Lebanon's north and west sides. The development necessitated a plan update, regardless of whether the county was financially ready. The IEDC is exempt from paying property taxes on land it has bought for development, although the land returns to the tax rolls when a business buys it for development, such as Eli Lilly and Co.'s 800 acres at two sites. Meta has also bought more than 1,000 acres to develop. The former agricultural and residential land is taxed at far greater rates, $100,000 per acre and more so far, when it is bought and rezoned for industrial use. Copeland said the state is careful in not referring to the money it may supply as a replacement for lost taxes, but rather as an economic development payment. Whatever they call it, taxpayer Brian Daggy asked Copeland to remind the IEDC that $400,000 is far less than it would pay for taxes on the now-exempt land. In other business, the council: * Narrowly voted to add a running time period on meeting agendas for council members to comment on matters of interest that were not on the agenda. But their comments will be limited to five minutes. The time limit proved controversial, with Aaron Williams warning that it puts the council on a 'slippery slope to censorship.' Williams, John Riner, and Dustin Plunkett voted no, while Hostetter, Shari Richey, Kevin Van Horn and Dan Lamar voted yes. Council members are not limited when speaking about regular agenda items, and the council can suspend rules to allow for more than five minutes as needed. * Approved the Boone County Commissioners' request to move money from their legal services budget line to the indirect consulting line to pay to activate a sewage district at Interstate 65 and Ind. 47 in anticipation of commercial development. * Hostetter announced the winner of the county employee's spring competition to get them walking. Maria Truitt, a court reporter, was in first place until Hostetter and Boone County Sheriff Tony Harris got into a fierce but friendly match at the end. Harris had to walk 22 miles the final day of the competition to beat Hostetter after they both walked 20 miles the previous day. Hostetter said with a laugh that Harris told her he wasn't walking the last day, so she laid off out of fatigue and let her guard down, while he sailed to first place. Hostetter was second, with Truitt coming in third.
Yahoo
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Neenah moves forward with potential wheel tax to replace repealed street fee
NEENAH, Wis. (WFRV) – The City of Neenah is one step closer to implementing a new wheel tax after officially eliminating its controversial Transportation Assessment Replacement Fee (TARF). The TARF, which required each homeowner to pay a $40 annual fee to help maintain roads and sidewalks, was repealed after facing legal challenges. Now, the city is considering a $30 annual wheel tax on vehicle owners to replace the funding previously collected through the TARF. 'The wheel tax is estimated to bring in just over $800,000, which is what the TARF brought in,' said Neenah Mayor Jane Lang. 'It's really swapping one for the other.' If approved at the next city council meeting, the wheel tax would go into effect in 2026. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WFRV Local 5 - Green Bay, Appleton.
