City of Eau Claire, Wisconsin
Home Menu2024 LVRF Funded Projects
Completed Projects
Addison Avenue to N. Eddy Street
2024 Projects
- Anderson Drive – Delbert Rd. to Melby St. –Construction completed
- Mercury Avenue – Marquette St. to Piedmont Rd. – Construction completed
- Milton Road – Eddy lane to Piedmont Rd. – Construction completed
- Piedmont Rd. – Milton Rd. to Mercury Ave. – Construction completed
- Sheridan Road – Addison Ave. to N. Eddy St. - Construction completed
- Grover Road – 150’ West of Goldridge Rd. to Stein Blvd. – Construction completed
LVRF PROCESS INFORMATION
Local Vehicle Registration Fee - What is it and Why?
The City of Eau Claire is exploring the idea of instituting a Local Vehicle Registration Fee (LVRF) which is also sometimes referred to as a “wheel tax.” With limited state aid, a LVRF is one of the few ways that local governments can raise money to fund their transportation programs. There are 44 local governments in Wisconsin with a vehicle registration fee as of February 2022. The City of Eau Claire’s street construction projects are seeing inflationary increases that are far exceeding any increase of existing funding. This is an unsustainable situation and if nothing is done, it is likely our street conditions will begin to deteriorate. A local vehicle registration fee is being explored as a funding source in order for the City to maintain our high quality of streets, reduce the amount of debt issued to pay for the street construction projects, and undertake street projects that we currently don’t have funding for.
The City of Eau Claire is Not Alone
Many communities across Wisconsin are facing difficulties funding infrastructure maintenance. The article "Funding Options Needed for Infrastructure Maintenance" by Jeff Mazanec, in the March 2023 issue of The Municipality from the Wisconsin League of Municipalities, linked below, gives some insight into road ratings and maintenance and funding options for communities.
Funding Options Needed for Infrastructure Maintenance by Jeff Mazanec
Two-Way Street - Is there a better way to distribute local road aid in Wisconsin? From The Wisconsin Policy Forum
Reference Materials
City of Eau Claire Finance Department
Two Way Street - Full Report Dec 2021
Q & A - July 2023
City Council Legislative Session - July 25, 2023
*Ordinance requested by Council Members Anderson and Werthmann.
CITY COUNCIL - Agenda Item #12
AGENDA ITEM COVER SHEET
Meeting Date: Tuesday, July 25, 2023
Agenda Item: Ordinance creating Section 3.40.020 entitled “Adoption of a Local Vehicle
Registration Fee” of the Code of Ordinances of the City of Eau Claire.
SUMMARY / BACKGROUND
Wisconsin State Statute 341.35 establishes the authority of a municipality to enact an
ordinance imposing an annual flat municipal registration fee on vehicles registered under
s. 341.25(1)(c). This resolution creates Section 3.40.020 “Adoption of a Local Vehicle
Registration Fee” in the City of Eau Claire Code of Ordinances enacting a Local Vehicle
Registration Fee (LVRF) to be used for the City’s transportation needs. This resolution
is revised from the ordinance acted on by City Council on March 14, 2023, and includes
a reduced Local Vehicle Registration Fee of $24 per vehicle.
The revenue from the LVRF will be used only for transportation related purposes and, specifically, to repair pavement on sections of the following streets, which would not be possible beginning in 2024 without the additional revenue of the LVRF.
1. Anderson Drive (Delbert to Melby)
2. Sheridan Road (Addison to Eddy)
3. Gilbert Street
4. Eldorado Boulevard
5. Old Wells Road (North of STH 312)
6. Forest Street (North of the High Bridge)
7. Grover Road (By Stein Boulevard)
8. Fairfax Street (Both Sides of Cut)
9. Rudolph Road (South of Golf Road)
10. Vernon Street
Additionally, more robust pavement repair would be planned for Birch Street from Starr
Avenue to Germania Street than was originally planned for in 2024.
Council Members Anderson and Werthmann requested this ordinance.
ACTION / ATTACHMENTS
Action: Final Reading
Attachments: Ordinance
ORDINANCE
ORDINANCE CREATING SECTION 3.40.020 ENTITLED “ADOPTION OF A LOCAL
VEHICLE REGISTRATION FEE” OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF
EAU CLAIRE.
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAU CLAIRE DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. That section 3.40.020 entitled “Adoption of a local vehicle registration
fee” is hereby created to read as follows:
Chapter 3.40
FEES AND LICENSES SCHEDULE
Sections:
3.40.010 Fees and licenses schedule.
3.40.020 Adoption of a local vehicle registration fee.
3.40.020 Adoption of a local vehicle registration fee. Pursuant to Wis. Stats. §341.35, the
City of Eau Claire imposes a $24.00 (Twenty-four dollar) municipal registration fee on all motor
vehicles registered in Wisconsin which are customarily kept in the City of Eau Claire.