Wheelage tax increase of $10 per vehicle to begin Jan. 1, 2018
The Ramsey County Board of Commissioners today voted to increase the wheelage tax by $10 per vehicle to address long-term maintenance needs on its 293-mile county road system. Effective January 1, 2018, motor vehicle owners will pay a $20 annual fee per vehicle registered in Ramsey County with Driver and Vehicle Services.
"Earlier in the decade, we faced an ever-growing backlog of county roads in need of maintenance," said County Board chair Victoria Reinhardt. "Since 2014, this funding has allowed our Public Works department to effectively double its annual maintenance program and catch up on the backlog. Today's action extends this proven program, making our county roads safer and more reliable for individual and commercial drivers."
The county has collected $10 per vehicle since 2014. Including the construction season currently underway, wheelage tax revenues of about $4 million per year have allowed Ramsey County Public Works to resurface an extra 26 miles of Ramsey County roads. Resurfacing involves shearing off the top level of roadway and repaving it smoothly with new asphalt. Less intensive than full reconstruction – and often not even requiring detours – resurfacing extends the life of a road by 8-12 years. In addition, outdated intersections on these roads have been replaced with new, accessible ramps and signals for pedestrians.
These additional funds will allow Public Works to keep better pace with the year-after-year road maintenance demands and continue to shift focus to planned upkeep and prevention instead of emergency repairs. Half of the new funds collected will be applied to other features associated with roads that also require maintenance – including signals and traffic control systems, bridge and drainage structures, pedestrian and bicycle facilities, signs and markings, guardrails and retaining walls.
Materials from the county board meeting:
Contact: John Siqveland, Public Communications Director, 651-746-9250.
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