Candidates split on wheel tax, assessments and possible Winnebago County sales tax

Candidates at the forum addressed several fiscal issues that affect property owners and taxpayers, including the vehicle registration fee (commonly called the wheel tax), the timing of property reassessments, and a proposed half‑percent Winnebago County sales tax.

On the vehicle registration fee, which replaced special assessments for certain street and sidewalk projects, Carl Bulow said the policy reduces the burden on property owners who previously faced large special assessments, noting it prevents “seniors have[ing] to sell their house when they get a 12 to $15,000 special assessment.” Joe Stevenson and Bridal Spanbauer said the fee is preferable to individual special assessments because it spreads costs across users; Stevenson called it “better not perfect.” Paul Eslinger said he voted against the fee and objected that large commercial users of roads (for example, heavy haulers) are not assessed proportionally under the current approach.

Candidates also discussed commercial property reassessment. Several said waiting seven years between reassessments was too long: Bulow called seven years “absolutely too long” and said the reassessment process costs the city between “$150,000 and $250,000 a year” to run for commercial property; Eslinger and Brad (Spanbauer) said reassessments should happen every two to three years. Bulow said the city is working with the state Department of Revenue to ensure the next reassessment is accurate and warned that the results could show that an earlier contractor made errors rather than the state’s numbers being off.

On a proposed half‑percent Winnebago County sales tax, candidates were split. Bulow and Spanbauer expressed conditional support if the revenue were clearly targeted — Bulow framed it as a way to capture tourist spending related to events such as the EAA and festivals — while Eslinger opposed the idea because of lack of local control over how county revenues would be distributed. Stevenson said he would consider the tax if it were coupled with reductions elsewhere and if the revenue funded roads or tax relief.

Candidates briefly considered whether the council should weigh in on federal tariffs. Eslinger said tariffs are outside the city council’s purview and should not be a council focus; Bulow favored a resolution communicating the council’s concerns to the state; Stevenson said he would avoid bringing polarized federal issues into local politics.

No formal votes or resolutions were taken at the forum; candidates outlined positions they would advance if elected and identified areas where they would seek state or county coordination.