The Common Council debated and voted on several fee measures that are part of the 2026 revenue plan. Two of the most visible, the street-lighting fee and the vehicle-registration fee (sometimes called the wheel tax), prompted hours of discussion about fairness, municipal service quality and the distribution of charges across nonprofit and private property owners.

Street-lighting fee: The council initially voted down an increase to the street-lighting fee; the clerk reported an initial tally of 5 ayes, 9 noes and 1 excused. Members later moved to reconsider the item, reopened debate, and on reconsideration adopted the revised street-lighting fee increase by recorded vote (final tally: 12 ayes, 2 noes, 1 excused). Supporters said fee revenue helps pay to replace aging conduit and fixtures that have caused widespread outages; opponents noted the visible service shortfalls and urged prioritizing repair and accountability.

Vehicle registration fee: Council members considered an amendment to the vehicle-registration fee. After debate and a substitution to adjust the amount, the council adopted an amended vehicle-registration fee measure by recorded vote (final tally on the amended item: 9 ayes, 5 noes, 1 excused according to the clerk).

Why it matters: Fees directly affect residents who pay them and determine funding streams for specific services. The street-lighting and vehicle-registration fees are dedicated revenue sources used to pay for lighting and local road or transportation needs.

What to watch: Departments must now present implementation details, timing and reporting consistent with the footnotes the council adopted during the budget process.