Fiscal Note
This ordinance authorizes a local vehicle registration fee as allowed under state law. A $17 fee is anticipated to raise $3.3 million on an annual basis (based on information from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation that there are approximately 194,000 eligible vehicles registered in the City of Madison). Proceeds from a local vehicle registration fee must be used for transportation purposes. Use of the revenues from a local vehicle registration fee requires appropriation by the Common Council through a resolution (e.g., the budget). The state vehicle registration fee is $75 annually. Dane County recently enacted a local vehicle registration fee of $28, effective October 1, 2018. The County fee applies to all eligible vehicles in the county, including eligible vehicles in the City of Madison. A $17 fee levied by the City of Madison would result in a total vehicle registration fee in the City of $120.
Nineteen municipalities and eight counties in Wisconsin have adopted a local vehicle registration fee. Amounts range from $10 to $30 annually. The state Department of Transportation must receive notice of enactment of a local vehicle registration fee at least three months prior to its effective date. As such, a January 1, 2019, effective date for the fee would require adoption of this ordinance by the Council by its September 4th meeting.
Title
Creating Sec. 12.177 of the Madison General Ordinances to establish a City of Madison motor vehicle registration fee.
Body
DRAFTER'S ANALYSIS: Wis. Stat. § 341.35 authorizes municipalities (and counties) to establish a local motor vehicle registration fee. These fees are collected by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WisDOT) at the time of vehicle registration or renewal, and are remitted to the municipality within thirty days after the end of the month in which the fee is collected. WisDOT retains an administrative fee (currently $0.17/registration). The revenues from these fees may only be used for transportation related purposes. This ordinance shall be effective on January 1, 2019.
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The Common Council of the City of Madison do hereby ordain as follows:
1. Section 12.177 entitled “Motor Vehicle Registration Fee” of the Madison General Ordinances is created to read as follows:
“12.177 MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE.
(1) In this section, the following definition applies:
(a) “Motor Vehicle” has the meaning provided by Wis. Stat. § 341.35(1), except that it does not include those vehicles exempt from a municipal registration fee under Wis. Stat. § 341.35(2).
(2) Pursuant to the authority granted the City by Wis. Stat. § 341.35(1), all motor vehicles registered in Wisconsin which are customarily kept in the City of Madison are subject to an annual City of Madison Motor Vehicle Registration Fee of $17.
(3) This fee shall be collected by the Wisconsin Department of Transportation and distributed to the City as provided for by Wis. Stat. § 341.35 and Wis. Admin. Code ch. Trans 126.
(4) The motor vehicle registration fee revenue received from the Wisconsin Department of Transportation may only be used for transportation related purposes.”
2. This ordinance shall be effective on January 1, 2019.