By Joe Bachman
Editor

STEVENS POINT — County officials held an open house at the Portage County Annex building on Moday which addressed the proposed ‘wheel tax’ on Portage County residents.

In short, the current funding model for the Portage County Highway Department has become unsustainable, and officials are looking for a way to make up the gaps in much needed funding for highways. Instead of borrowing money, the county is looking for taxpayer help in the form of a $25 annual vehicle fee, which would generate around $1.4 Million per year.

According to Portage County Highway Department Commissioner Nathan Check, the county wouldn’t the only one turning to such a fee for these circumstances.

The Portage Co. Annex Building. (Gazette Photo)

“As you may have seen in the media over the past few years, this is becoming popular as a funding source for these municipalities.” said Check.

Over two-dozen counties and municipalities have a similar tax. On the state’s end, the state has not raised vehicle registration fees since 2008. While the state provides aid to fund highway projects, according to an analysis by the Wisconsin Policy Forum, spending has decreased by 8.1 percent when adjusted for inflation.

Condition of Portage County roads

All in all, if Portage County is to keep up with general maintenance, pavement marking, shouldering, and maintaining safe winter driving conditions, additional funding is needed. Such funding would specifically make way for what is called a ‘Resurfacing, Reconditioning, Reconstruction’ program, where paving projects are broken down into those three categories. There will be additional focus on bridge preservation.

According to Check, 85 percent of the county’s 434 miles of roadway need some sort of maintenance or improvement. In fact, six of the county’s 36 bridges are considered “structurally deficient” with nearly half over 75 years of age.

This will lead to an approximate additional $3 Million per year in needed funding.

About the ‘Wheel tax’

The ‘wheel tax’ will be temporary, as it will stand as an ordinance with such limitations in writing.

-It would only apply to automobiles, vans, SUV’s, motor trucks, and dual-purpose motor homes.
-It would NOT apply to buses, motorcycles, mopeds, motor homes, low-speed vehicles, snowmobiles, trucks registered at more than 8,000 pounds, or vehicles registered as historic or antique/collectors.

These limitations come from state statutes, and is out of the county’s hands. Based on current numbers, approximately 57,000 vehicles would qualify for the tax in Portage County.

How will the funds be used?

According to Portage County Finance Director Jennifer Jossie — strictly in Portage County.

“The ordinance that drafted dictates that the funds collected can only be used in our county highway system,” said Jossie. “Any money collected would be kept in a separate fund and only transferred to the highway projects as needed on an annual basis.”

Overall, the proposed tax would be for five years.

The tax ordinance will be considered at the Nov. 20 Portage County Board meeting.