SHAWANO, WI- A proposed wheel tax for all Shawano County residents will go up for vote at next week’s Shawano County Board meeting.

The Executive Committee passed a vote to send the proposal of a $20 dollar wheel tax for all county residents to the full board for approval.

County Administrative Coordinator Jim Davel told the committee that the county needs extra revenue in order to due necessary work on county roads and bridges. The original proposal was to add a $25 dollar wheel tax for all registered vehicles in the county, which would add just under $1 million dollars in extra revenue.

“Quite frankly, we thought $25 dollars was more than enough, but we have to generate revenue,” Davel said. He also referenced the $40 wheel tax that the City of Shawano imposed on their residents vehicles, saying he felt that it was too much.

“Nobody likes this, I don’t like it,” Davel said. “You need to focus on the long term impacts on the county given that the levy limits are hampering us so significantly and our costs are going up so significantly. We need additional revenue to come in just to perform the services that we are required to perform.”

Supervisor Randy Young proposed removing the City of Shawano residents from those who would have the County Wheel Tax, due to the fact that they are already paying $40.

That proposal was met with resistance saying that picking and choosing would not be possible. Chairman Tom Kautza mentioned that Tigerton residents also have a $10 dollar wheel tax that the Village imposed on the residents.

“So you are saying that the city residents should be charged again?” Young asked Kautza. “It seems to me that you are trying to make up for the high amount that the city put on their residents,” Kautza added.

Young was not the only one opposed, Kathy Luepke said all property owners should pay, not just those who own vehicles. “There are a lot of people who own property in Shawano County and use our roads, but they own vehicles in Brown County and will not be impacted by this. I’m looking at the equity.”

Kautza made a motion to reduce the fee from $25 dollars to $20 dollars. That proposal would result in a revenue total of around $740,000.

The proposal was voted in favor 3-2 with Young and Luepke voting no.

If the proposal passes, City of Shawano residents would be paying a total of $60 dollars in wheel taxes and Village of Tigerton residents will be paying a total of $30 dollars in wheel taxes.