Should Greenfield Institute its own Wheel Tax?

GREENFIELD -- When Gov. Scott Walker released his proposed 2017-19 Transportation Budget, it included more transportation funding for local governments, while delaying major interchange projects. The proposed funding increase has come as welcome news to many municipalities struggling with paying for costly road projects.

And then there was the news this week that Milwaukee County Executive Chris Abele supports adding a $60 annual wheel tax increase onto county taxpayers.

We looked at each Patch.com community to find out how much a wheel tax would add to your local municipality's coffers. With the exception of St. Croix County and Milwaukee, which have a $10 and $20 wheel tax respectively, each municipality listed here has not instituted a wheel tax.

Here is What Greenfield could raise with a Wheel Tax:

• Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 25,127
• Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $251,270.00
• Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $502,540.00

According to a database published by the Stevens Point Journal, here are the approximate dollar values that could be raised in each community from a potential wheel tax.

Brookfield
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 35,054
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $350,540.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $701,080.00

Caledonia
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 3,480
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $34,800.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $69,600.00

Fox point
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 4,659
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $46,590.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $93,180.00

Greendale
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 10,506
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $105,060.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $210,120.00

Greenfield
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 25,127
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $251,270.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $502,540.00

Hudson
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 22,140
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $221,400.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $442,800.00

Menomonee falls
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 29,747
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $297,470.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $594,940.00

Milwaukee
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 323,436
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $3,234,360.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $6,468,720.00

Mount pleasant
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 9,705
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $97,050.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $194,100.00

Muskego
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 20,279
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $202,790.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $405,580.00

Oak creek
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 26,609
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $266,090.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $532,180.00

Port washington
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 8,945
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $89,450.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $178,900.00

Racine
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 74,381
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $743,810.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $1,487,620.00

Sturtevant
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 4,549
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $45,490.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $90,980.00

Shorewood
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 7,062
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $70,620.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $141,240.00

Sussex
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 14,086
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $140,860.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $281,720.00

Waukesha
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 68,166
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $681,660.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $1,363,320.00

Wauwatosa
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 29,764
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $297,640.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $595,280.00

Whitefish bay
Wheel tax eligible vehicles: 8,938
Estimated revenue from a $10 tax: $89,380.00
Estimated revenue from a $20 tax: $178,760.00

image: scott anderson/patch file photo