Hortonville board revisits wheel-tax idea; registration data inconsistent and no vote taken

Board members discussed the potential for a municipal wheel tax Feb. 20 after a board member shared vehicle-registration data from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation. The DOT printout showed 4,005 vehicles that could be subject to a wheel tax in the Hortonville ZIP code, but speakers warned that the figure excludes trailers and motorcycles and may not reflect only village residents because of mailing-address discrepancies.

One speaker estimated that 4,000 vehicles at $20 each could generate roughly $80,000 a year; another board member said earlier estimates had suggested roughly $100,000. Several members cautioned that the data are uncertain because the DOT groups registrations by ZIP code (54944) and that would include residents who are not inside village limits. Board members also discussed equity concerns: a wheel tax charges a flat fee per vehicle and can be regressive for households with multiple vehicles, while property tax allocation treats owners differently.

Speakers noted two advantages sometimes cited for a wheel tax: revenue is dedicated to roads and it would stay in the village. At the same time, board members observed Hortonville’s lower population density limits the revenue pool compared with a larger city such as Appleton. No motion or vote was taken at the meeting; the item was discussed for information and to place the revenue potential “in the back of your mind” for future budget conversations.

The transcript records that the DOT contact could supply more detailed address-level registration data if the village were to implement a wheel tax, but that currently available printouts are insufficient to determine an accurate count of village-registered vehicles.