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Johnson County commissioners direct staff to pursue $10 motor-vehicle transaction fee for 2027
Summary
After a presentation on motor-vehicle operations and revenue options, the board voted 7–0 to direct staff to pursue setting the county transaction fee at $10 for 2027, citing long customer wait times and the need to fund eight new motor-vehicle specialists.
The Johnson County Board of County Commissioners voted unanimously to direct staff to pursue a $10 motor-vehicle transaction fee for calendar year 2027 as part of the county budget process.
Interim County Treasurer Greg Baldwin told the board that a change in state law renamed the old facility fee to a transaction fee and allowed counties to set fees between $5 and $10 beginning Jan. 1, 2027. Baldwin said a $5 fee, effective July 1, 2026, would generate roughly $1.2 million in additional revenue this year and about $2.4 million annually starting in 2027, with each additional dollar above $5 yielding about $640,000 a year. An increase to $10, he said, would bring about $3.2 million annually through 2029.
"Each additional dollar above the $5 amount starting in 2027 yields approximately $640,000 in annual revenue," Baldwin said, and he recommended the higher fee option to fully cover projected operational costs and staffing needs.
The fee debate came after Amy Merberg, county clerk and register of deeds, described long motor-vehicle transaction volumes and wait times — more than 742,000 transactions in 2025 and average in‑office waits above three hours — and requested funding for additional motor-vehicle specialists. The adopted budget funds eight of 14 requested positions at $662,182 in 2027; Baldwin said the $6 fee scenario would cover those positions but that $10 would offer greater margin for staffing and contingency.
Commissioners debated staffing against process improvements: some urged using the fee to add staff now and buy the county flexibility during the three-year statutory window, while others pressed for process changes, partnerships with dealerships or tag agents, and clearer tracking of fee revenues and uses. "It's a small increase in fee but would have a large impact overall in Johnson County," Chair Kelly said during discussion.
Commissioner Hansick moved and Commissioner Myers seconded the motion to direct staff to pursue the $10 fee and to encourage work on non‑personnel process improvements; the clerk called the roll and the motion carried 7–0.
The board directed staff to finalize the recommended fee so the county can meet statutory reporting deadlines and returned the issue to the budget and revenue process for administrative follow-up. Under the statute Baldwin cited, counties must set final fee amounts to the Kansas Department of Revenue by Oct. 1 to allow programming and reporting.
