Altoona to consider letter of opposition to Eau Claire County wheel tax proposal

Wednesday, July 11, 2018
Kristen Shill | WQOW

Eau Claire County (WQOW) - The City of Altoona is considering formally voicing its opposition to the proposed Eau Claire County wheel tax. 

Thursday night, the Altoona City Council will consider sending a letter to Eau Claire County Administrator Kathryn Schauf, and board commissioners, outlining their concerns. 

As we've reported, the county board's plan would call for a $30 registration fee per-vehicle. It would bring in an estimated $2.4 million a year. That money would be used to pay for road projects.

In the draft letter Altoona will consider, concerns include the fee being tied with the highest in the state (Milwaukee County) which would hinder Altoona's future efforts to address its own roads maintenance issues with local registration fees, if it so chooses. It also notes, residents of Altoona account for about 7 percent of the vehicles registered in the county but only 1 percent of county-maintained roads fall within the city limits.

The county board will vote on the proposal July 17. 

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