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City manager: Riverside cannot raise its share of motor-vehicle license fee under current state and county rules
Summary
After review, staff told council Riverside lacks authority to increase its share of the motor-vehicle license fee; the state registration total is about $30 and the city receives roughly $10, with the county taking the remainder under Ohio law.
City Manager Josh told Riverside City Council that the city cannot increase the portion of the motor-vehicle license fee that it receives because state and county distribution rules limit municipal authority.
"We actually don't think we have any ability to increase this rate," the manager said after staff reviewed state guidance. Staff said the published state registration amount is roughly $30, but Riverside receives about $10 of that and the county captures the remainder under Ohio's distribution system. The manager explained that raising the city's stated rate would not change the county's allocation and therefore would not increase city receipts.
Staff said the city will continue to monitor permissive tax collections and include motor-vehicle license receipts in annual budget planning, but that statutory and county distribution rules prevent a unilateral city rate increase.
Council members asked clarifying questions about distribution formulas and whether changes at the county or state level could alter the city's share; staff responded that formulas are complex and that staff did not have authority to reallocate county-collected funds.
