Wheel Tax Proposal – Status Update

As part of the 2026 budget planning process, the Common Council explored various funding options to address New Berlin’s long-term service needs. One of those options was a municipal vehicle registration fee, commonly referred to as a wheel tax.

This proposal was first introduced during the Committee of the Whole meeting, where City staff and the Finance Director presented background information on the wheel tax, including revenue projections and how other Wisconsin municipalities utilize the fee. No formal action was taken at that time, and the discussion was held for further review.

The topic was revisited at a Special Committee of the Whole meeting, where members of the Common Council publicly shared their views and provided clear direction.

During that meeting, the Council reached consensus that they do not support implementing a wheel tax. As a result, this option has been removed from consideration and will not move forward.