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Minnehaha County approves wheel-tax increase for heavy vehicles to boost bridge grant competitiveness
Summary
On June 17 Minnehaha County commissioners approved a second-reading amendment to the county wheel-tax ordinance increasing fees for vehicles over 6,000 pounds to $5 per wheel (up to $60). Supporters said the change makes funding more equitable and improves the county's bridge-repair grant competitiveness; an opponent urged fiscal restraint.
Minnehaha County commissioners on June 17 approved a second-reading amendment to the county's wheel-tax ordinance that raises the fee for vehicles over 6,000 pounds to $5 per wheel, up to a $60 maximum.
Jacob Mars, of the county highway department, told the commission the change would add two points to Minnehaha County's score when the county applies for state bridge-repair and replacement grants, improving competitiveness for those grants. Mars described the adjustment as targeted at heavier vehicles that cause more pavement and bridge wear.
At public comment, Julianne Talkington of Sioux Falls urged the commission not to raise taxes and fees. "We need to cut spending and cut taxes and fees," Talkington said, arguing that long-run inflation and wage stagnation mean new fees burden residents and suggesting there are budget cuts the county could make instead.
Commissioners who supported the ordinance framed it as a user fee on vehicles that cause disproportionate damage to roads. "Larger vehicles, which cause greater road wear than standard passenger vehicles, would more equitably contribute to infrastructure maintenance costs," said Commissioner Benninger. The chair noted that property taxes do not finance county roads and described the wheel tax as the core funding source for highway maintenance.
The ordinance was approved on a voice/roll-call vote; the motion to adopt the amendment carried. The commission recorded ayes and announced the motion carried at the meeting.
The staff presentation included a revenue estimate phrased in the record as "approximately 200,190 thousand dollars," language that appears to be a transcription or formatting error; the record does not provide a clear, unambiguous total in standard dollars. County staff and commissioners said the increase would take effect Jan. 1 and would help the county secure higher matching grant scores for bridge work, increasing the county's ability to leverage state funds for repairs.
The commission did not take further specific appropriation actions at this meeting; future budget and project authorizations tied to wheel-tax revenue will be considered in subsequent proceedings.
