Kosciusko County Council will meet in a special public meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, June 19, for a final vote on a new wheel tax and surtax ordinance.

If enacted, the taxes would cost county motorists an additional $25 per year for every registered vehicle under 11,000 pounds – such as passenger vehicles and motorcycles. Larger commercial and transport vehicles would be charged $40 per year. A financial analysis provided by Umbaugh and Associates for the county projects that the wheel tax could supply the county with more than $1.7 million each year.

In a county council meeting last month, councilman Bob Sanders said state legislators have given counties the option to fix roads with the ability to establish the tax. In Indiana, the wheel tax has been an option since 1980 and 47 counties have already adopted it. The tax is being proposed because of a shortfall in funds for the county highway department, largely affected by winter expenses related to relentless snowfall.

As passed on the first reading by a 5-1 vote — councilman Jon Fussle was the only councilman opposed — the wheel tax will also include a 20-year sunset provision. That means the tax will be collected annually for the next 20 years.

Thursday’s meeting is open to the public. Because the vote was not unanimous, the county council must meet in the special session for a second vote.

County Council meetings are held upstairs in the old courtroom of the Kosciusko County Courthouse.