Stearns County Considers Wheelage Tax for Road Projects

ST. CLOUD -- Another central Minnesota county is considering a wheelage tax to help pay for road projects.

Stearns County joins Benton County in trying to decide whether to collect an additional $10 on vehicle license tabs.

Stearns County Highway Engineer Jodi Teich says they've fallen behind on projects as funding has remained flat and the cost of projects has gone up.

The tax would generate an estimated $1.5-million more per year for Stearns County road and bridge projects. State law requires that it go directly to pay for those projects.

If Stearns County approves the tax, they must notify the Minnesota Department of Public Safety by August 1st for it to go into effect in 2014.

Commissioners will look at the issue at their July 9th board meeting.