Mayor Scott Fadness proposed an Excise and Wheel tax be enacted by the Fishers City Council to fund road infrastructure within the city.  The mayor cited a law passed in the 2016 session of the Indiana General Assembly, giving local governments the power to enact such levies funding street and road work.

“I know it makes everybody uncomfortable to talk about these types of conversations,” Fadness said. “I am a full advocate in support of the $25 fee (excise tax on vehicles).  I just think that our city needs to maintain its infrastructure.  I think we can clearly articulate to our residents that this money is going directly to resurfacing their roads and nothing else.”

Fadness used Bureau of Motor Vehicles data to estimate that $2.5 million per year would be raised by taxing locally owned vehicles $25 per year.

Fadness made the proposal at a Conner Prairie retreat of the Fishers City Council.  Council members voicing an opinion were strongly in favor of Fadness’ idea.

If the council chooses to enact this tax as part of the 2017 budget, the levy would not begin until 2018, due to deadlines in the state law passed this year.