Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1922-11-08
COUNTY BOARD
OCONSIDE:R
VEHICLE TAX
Measure Proposes To
Make Motorists Pay
For Use Of Highways.

The biggest matter before the Grant
county board at the coming session
VIII be the endorsement or rejection
Of a plan to raise considerable sum
OF money Tor state road purposes,
running in fact, above ten million dol
lars. This money will be raised by
tax upon motor vehicles of all classes
and the plan is fathered by r. w.
Davis, chairman of the La Crosse
county board, and committee of
seven appointed by the state associa-
ton of county chairman.
1t is set forth in a lengthy resolu-
ton that the state legislature at it's
last session failed to provide funds to
meet rendered federal aid for road
work and without which federal aid
cannot be obtained. To meet the fed
eral aid to provide for an extension of
the state trunk line system from 5000
miles to 10000 miles the special ve-
hicle taxes are provided 1t is set
forth that it would be impossible to
raise this money by further increas-
ing the already heavy general taxes.
The vehicle taxes are three in num-
Der as follows:
First-A tax Of two per cent on all
motor vehicles based upon market
value, 80 per cent valuation first
year, IS per cent valuation second
year, so per cent valuation third year
and fifty per cent valuation fourth
year and subsequent years. This val
uation will be determined from tables
by the state.
Second-A graduated license fee ac-
sr-Io4 ,aIT
of soc a hundred up to one ton and q
dollar a ton over. A fee of 81 per
hundred for all trucks and motor
buses over one ton.
Third-A tax of &c a gallon on gas
oline sales, industrial and home uses
rebated.
The estimated revenue from these
three taxes would be: First, $780,
000 second, $4,500,000; third, $780,
900. Total $10,500,00000
In addition there would be tax Of
$25 year on each public garage and
tax of 81 per year on motorcycles.
The auto license tax as paid at pres
ent would not be levied. Local car
taxes would be done away with. Ger
tain other funds now raised by direct
tax would be cared for in the bill.
The county board can by resolution
ask the state legislature to pass the
bill when it comes up this winter. Ii
a sufficient number of county boards
are in favor of the motor vehicle tax
it will undoubtedly pass.
The plan bears the earmarks of a
similar bill presented two years ago
by A r. Hirst, head of the state high
way commission. That bill was de-
feated The present bill is said to be
more drastic in it's effect upon the car
owner than the Hirst bill.
Without a doubt the bill will put a
much heavier burden on the car own
err. On the other hand it is pointed
out that the car owner benefits direct
ly by keeping up and improving the
roads and should pay a graduated tax
according to his, investment.
The sources of revenue would be
as follows: Garage fees, $4,000;
motorcycle fees, $4,000; automobile
fees, $3,500,000 truck fees, $1,000,O00 !:
2 per cent privilege tax, $3,500,OOO;
gasoline tax, $2,500,000. The specific
uses of these funds would be: To meet
federal aid, $2,50O,OOO; maintenance
of 10000 mile State frank Highway
system, 100000; state aid for high
ways, $785,0OO; special state aid for
bridges, 100000; roads in and to
state parks, $50,000; material sur
veys, $4,000; maintenance of County
Trunk Highways, $2,000,000, state aid
for county highway organizations,
100000.