The DeKalb County Council voted 5 to 2 on Aug. 13 to pursue a county motor vehicle excise surtax and wheel tax at the statutory minimum rates and approved first reading of an ordinance establishing the tax.
The council approved first reading of ordinance 2025-OCC-5 with minimum rates filled in and set a special meeting for second and third readings on Monday, Aug. 18 at 1:00 p.m.
The vote followed a lengthy discussion among council members and staff about shortfalls in highway maintenance funding, the soon-to-be-reduced "lighted" revenues, and how a wheel tax would interface with city and town levies and community crossings grant eligibility. Councilmembers repeatedly discussed trade-offs: some argued for the minimum to avoid overburdening residents and allow re-evaluation next year; others said the county faces a near-term shortfall that a higher rate would better address.
Council President Bob Craft opened the agenda item by summarizing prior public outreach and stressing the council had no predetermined plan and would base any decision on council debate. Bill Van Wy made the motion to continue toward a wheel tax; Rick Ring seconded. After discussion and an initial motion to adopt the minimum rates, the council took a roll-call vote on pursuing the tax and later voted to pass the ordinance on first reading.
Members discussed revenue scenarios presented by county staff and consultants, including an estimate that minimum rates would generate roughly $300,000 annually for the county (estimates vary by model) and that the second round of Community Crossings funding could return roughly $1 million to the county if the wheel tax is in place. Opponents warned that neighboring jurisdictions that already levy wheel taxes in some cases set higher rates and have later sought increases, and noted fairness concerns for low-income residents and potential vehicle registration shifting to other states.
The council also agreed by consensus to revisit the tax after one year; a member offered an amendment to the motion to review the levy at next year's budget cycle, which the body discussed while voting on the primary motion. Councilmembers instructed staff to prepare the ordinance text with the minimum schedule so the council could complete required readings by the statutory deadlines.
The council scheduled a special meeting for Monday, Aug. 18 at 1 p.m. to hold the ordinance's second and third readings if members choose to finalize the tax then.
The action means the county will proceed with a locally imposed wheel tax process; final adoption requires completing the required readings and any additional votes scheduled as advertised.