Shawano County is considering the implementation of a Vehicle Registration Fee, commonly known as a “wheel tax,” to generate additional funds for transportation-related projects. An informational meeting is scheduled for Thursday, February 20, 2025, from 3:30 to 6:00 PM at Shawano County Room A/B, 311 N Main St., Shawano, WI. County Board Chairman Thomas Kautza, Administrative Coordinator James Davel, and Highway Commissioner Grant Bystol will provide an overview of the proposed Ordinance 1-25 and its potential impact on residents.

In Wisconsin, municipalities and counties have the authority to enact a wheel tax on vehicles such as automobiles and light trucks weighing 8,000 pounds or less and customarily kept within their jurisdiction. State law mandates that all revenue generated from this fee must be utilized exclusively for transportation-related purposes, including road maintenance, infrastructure projects, and other transportation needs.

To establish a wheel tax, a municipality or county must pass an ordinance. The Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) requires at least a 90-day notice before the fee’s effective date to facilitate proper collection and administration. WisDOT collects the wheel tax concurrently with the state’s annual vehicle registration fees, disbursing the collected funds to the respective municipality or county, minus a nominal administrative fee of 10 cents per vehicle application.

The revenue from the wheel tax is restricted to transportation-related expenditures. While “transportation purposes” is not explicitly defined in the statute, it generally encompasses activities such as road and bridge maintenance, public transit support, and other related infrastructure projects.