WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsCommittee eyes new kind of wheel tax

Committee eyes new kind of wheel tax

Eau Claire (WQOW) - One idea breathes new life or air into the wheel tax but this idea wouldn't affect anyone who drives. 

On Wednesday morning, the Eau Claire Fiscal Policy Advisory Committee met to talk about potential revenue options. One new idea raised was a registration fee for bicyclists. 

The wheel tax may have failed this year but one council member says it could have new life - this time, on two wheels, not four.

"Thirty-five to 40 years ago we did have bicycle fees and we don't have them now and yet we have a huge investment in a wonderful bicycle network in town," says councilman Dave Duax.

Duax is talking about a possible $5 bicycle fee to help maintain those networks. Some say it's not a bad idea.

"If it's a user fee that's applied directly to maintaining bicycle facilities in the City of Eau Claire, I'm all for it," says Eric Johnson, co-owner of Anybody's Bike shop.

Johnson's store has seen 1,500 customers since August. He says with the great trail system we have, he could get behind the idea as long as the money is used for upkeep and expansion of the system.

"If the city continues to do a good job and put paths where people want to ride bikes and destinations where people actually want to go, it could work," adds Johnson.

Says Duax, "I think it's going to be a great tourist attraction when it's all done. We need to finish the network and we need to have a way of funding a system and we need to promote it."

So how it would it impact the city budget? Here's one idea: the city would have no pressure to take money from other areas to support trails because of a new tax.

Adds Duax, "What we have to seriously look at is, is there any possibility of spreading out the taxation burden and one of the ways to do that is to look at certain fees, for instance a bicycle fee, might be something to look at."

Keep in mind the idea just came up Wednesday morning. Whether the road ahead for a two-wheel tax is smooth or filled with potholes is still anyone's guess. 

Since the idea was just raised, there are many details that have to be ironed out.  A $10 wheel tax for vehicles recently failed to move forward. Many residents opposed it because they didn't like the idea of paying another tax. The council will have a work session to discuss revenue ideas on December 1st.

Wednesday's meeting also included a discussion about money-saving ideas including early retirement options for city employees. The committee says its needs more information including who would be eligible and how much money could be saved. That's why a study will be done in March. Another idea discussed was to involve the community in the budget process more which could mean starting the budget process sooner.