By JEFF JELLISON
Reporter Publisher
On Tuesday, the Noblesville Common Council unanimously approved two ordinances that will put in place a wheel tax and a motor vehicle excise surtax beginning January 2022 and paid when Noblesville residents register their vehicles.
The funds generated from the new taxes will fund a portion of the Pleasant Street bypass.
During the meeting, Mike Corbett, a Noblesville resident and former candidate for mayor, addressed the council and suggested to the council to make the Pleasant Street bypass a toll road instead of implementing new taxes. Corbett believes people might be willing to pay the toll to get through Noblesville more quickly.
Ayer
Hampton
Councilman Wil Hampton said a toll would defeat the purpose of the road because people would avoid the toll.
Councilman Brian Ayer said, “I don’t take lightly imposing a surtax, but I’ve heard about this road for 30 years. Eight years ago, the initial cost estimate was $65 million dollars. Initial cost estimates now are $113 million. I don’t know what it is going to be if we keep delaying this. I think it is time to get the shovel in the ground and get this built.”
According to the ordinance, the following vehicles registered in the City of Noblesville will be subject to the Motor Vehicle License Excise Tax Surtax in the amount of $25:
- Passenger motor vehicles
- Motorcycles
- Motor driven cycles
- Collector vehicles
- Trailer vehicles with a declared gross weight of 9,000 pounds or less
- Trucks with a declared gross weight of 11,000 pounds or less
- Mini-trucks
- Military vehicles
In addition, the following vehicles will be subject to a Wheel Tax of $40:
- Buses
- Recreational vehicles
- Semitrailers
- Trailers with a declared gross weight of more than 9,000 pounds
- Trucks and tractors with a declared gross weight of more than 11,000 pounds
Vehicles exempt from the Wheel Tax are vehicles (1) owned by the state, (2) owned by a state agency of the state, (3) owned by a political subdivision of the state, (4) subject to the municipal vehicle excise tax imposed under Ind. Code 6-3.5-10, (5) a bus owned or operated by a religious or nonprofit youth organization and used to transport persons to religious services or for the benefit of its members, (6) a school bus, (7) a motor vehicle that is funeral equipment and that is used in the operation of funeral services (as defined in Ind. Code 25-15-2-17), or (8) any other vehicle exempt pursuant to Ind. Code 6-3.5-11-4.