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Committee recommends $25 wheel tax to full council to fund Lawrence roads
Summary
A City of Lawrence committee voted 4-0 to recommend that the full council consider a wheel tax of up to $25 per passenger vehicle (up to $40 for commercial vehicles), with revenues restricted to streets and roads and an anticipated 2026 effective year.
A City of Lawrence committee voted 4-0 to recommend that the full City Council consider a wheel tax that would charge up to $25 per passenger vehicle and up to $40 for commercial vehicles, with revenues earmarked for streets and roads and an expected 2026 effective date.
Committee members discussed the measure as a way to make up for an anticipated property tax revenue shortfall. The presiding member said, “all of the revenues that are collected from Wheel Tax can only be used for streets and roads.” The committee recorded four votes in favor and no votes against; the motion was moved by Councilor Jenning and seconded by Councilor Freeman.
The committee clarified that the fee would be additional to the county vehicle-license charge. A committee question asked, “How much exactly extra is this gonna be? 20 is it $25 per wheel tax?” Councilor Jenning answered, “25 a year.” Another committee participant noted that commercial vehicles are subject to a higher maximum, saying, “And then the commercial vehicles are 40. And those are maximum.” The presiding member repeated the limit: “It's my understanding. It's a it's a maximum of, 25.”
Officials said the change would take effect in 2026. During the vote the committee experienced a technical glitch with the remote voting interface; staff and members worked through the issue and confirmed the 4-0 recommendation to the full council.
No public-comment actions or amendments to the measure were recorded in the committee discussion. The recommendation now goes to the full City Council for consideration; the committee did not adopt an ordinance at this meeting and did not specify detailed implementation steps, budget amounts, or a timetable for council consideration.
The committee noted several clarifications during discussion: the fee varies by vehicle class, it is a local revenue stream that by rule is limited to streets and roads, and it is intended to supplement other local revenues rather than replace county charges. The committee also recorded that four members were present for the vote and that staff will address the voting-technology glitch before future meetings.
