License-plate tax to start on Jan. 1

By Linda Linonis

HUBBARD — City Auditor Michael C. Villano estimates the license-plate tax passed by city council will generate about $90,000 a year from the 9,000 vehicles registered to residents.

It will go into effect Jan. 1, 2010.

In a special session June 26, council passed the permissive license-plate tax that will add $10 to renewing a vehicle registration.

Ohio vehicle registration fees are now $34.50 for a car, $49.50 for a truck up to three-quarter ton and $28.50 for a motorcycle.

Villano said a section of the Ohio Revised Code gives local governments the ability to enact the tax after it is approved at the local level. He said the city had to pass the legislation by July 1, which it did. July 1 is the beginning of the fiscal year for governments.

The Hubbard tax will not be assessed separately but will be noted on vehicle registration information sent out by the Department of Motor Vehicles. The state will process the vehicle registration fees as usual and then turn over money that is owed to Hubbard.

“Like everyone and local governments in this economy, the street department is stretched. These funds will help out,” Villano said.

Villano said the city street department has five employees. Among their general tasks are snow removal, salting, catch-basin repair, leaf and branch pickup and routine road maintenance.

He said the funds will be used in street department work such as resurfacing and paving and other street-related expenses.

“The city street department also maintains the city-owned Maple Grove Cemetery,” Villano said.

In November, Trumbull County residents will most likely vote on two $5 license plate taxes. Stephanie Penrose, questions and issues clerk at Trumbull County Board of Elections, said these issues haven’t been filed as yet but most likely will be filed this week. Trumbull County commissioners had passed a resolution to put the license plate taxes on the ballot.

Trumbull County is the only Northeast Ohio county without a permissive auto-license tax. Both Mahoning and Columbiana residents pay $15 per vehicle. About two-thirds of Ohio’s 88 counties have the tax.

linonis@vindy.com

Vehicle Assessment

A Local Transportation Needs and Funding Report was issued by Ohio in September 2000, with this listing of municipalities and townships in Trumbull County and assessments on registered vehicles:

Cortland: $5.

Girard: $10.

McDonald: $10.

Newton Falls: $5.

Niles: $5.

Warren: $10.

West Farmington: $10.

Champion Township: $5.

Hubbard Township: $5.

Newton Township: $5.

Weathersfield Township: $5.