On the heels of a $40 annual wheel tax for Shawano residents, most Shawano County residents could soon find themselves facing a similar fee.
Members of the Shawano County Highway and Parks Committee on Jan. 7 unanimously agreed to a $25 annual wheel tax on all vehicles weighing no more than 8,000 pounds.
The vehicle registration fee was scheduled to be debated by the executive committee Jan. 15 and could go to the full county board Jan. 22. If approved, it would take effect Jan. 1, 2026.
Funds collected from the tax would be earmarked for road and bridge maintenance.
Grant Bystol, highway commissioner, said the county used to repave about 20 miles of county roads each year in the 1990s.
“We’re down to about 9 miles now, if we’re lucky,” he said.
In 2024, the county performed work on 9.6 miles of roads at a cost of about $3.2 million or about $331,00o per mile.
“For perspective, the county has 295 miles of roads,” Bystol said. “That would mean a road would be resurfaced every 33 years.”
In addition to increased costs, the other culprit affecting the change is state levy limits.
“Nobody wanted this to pass at highway, I can tell you that,” said Jim Davel, administrative coordinator. “The issue is … that we need additional revenue coming into the county to support what we want done. We can’t afford it. It’s just the bottom line. We’ve got to figure out additional ways to make up that difference, and this is one of those ways. With the levy limits being the way they are, you’re forcing counties and other municipalities to do this.”
State law limits which vehicles are subject to a wheel tax. Amish horse and buggies, as well as agricultural equipment, are exempt, as are all vehicles more than 8,000 pounds.
Some committee members said that is ironic as it is the heavy equipment and vehicles that do the most damage to roads.
“We really can’t touch the farmers much, or the Amish,” said Supervisor Rick Giese. “They (ag equipment) are the big ones that wear the roads down.”
He said the county is expected to be more stringent regarding weight limits on roads that take effect with each spring thaw.
“We have been doing it in the past, but we want to do a little more,” he said. “Keep it in check so people aren’t out there damaging our roads by having overweight trucks and stuff.”
A fiscal note on the proposed ordinance indicates there are about 37,350 eligible vehicles in the county. At $25 per vehicle, $933,750 would be generated in annual revenue.
A $25 rate was suggested after reviewing wheel taxes of neighboring counties. Marathon County has a $25 tax, and Langlade County has a $15 tax.
The city of Shawano fee is $40 per vehicle, and the village of Tigerton fee is $10 per vehicle.
Nearby communities and their wheel taxes are Gillett $20, Green Bay $25, Kaukauna $10, New London $20, Port Edwards $35.
kpasson@newmedia-wi.com
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