Delaware Co. Township Eyes License Renewal Tax To Increase Revenue

As officials in Washington try to find fixes for the nearly depleted federal highway trust fund, a Delaware County township has its own infrastructure worries. Officials in Liberty Township – which encompasses Powell – might implement a new license plate renewal fee. Townships are struggling financially says Tom Mitchell chair of Liberty Township’s trustees. “All townships are being squeezed for money. We don’t have a lot of tools at hand to generate economic development,â€? Mitchell says. That means the township has trouble keeping its roadways repaired. “Roads are a big part of our budget. Our roads are designed to last a certain amount of time and we’re more than double that time. And we’ve got to figure out what to do,â€? Mitchell says. One idea: add $5 to the cost of each license plate renewal. State law authorizes the addition of a so-called permissive tax. Mitchell says from what he hears, constituents are about evenly divided on the proposal. “Some residents say we have to do something and $5 a car isn’t that big of a deal. Others, they’re tired of being nickeled and dimed to death,â€? Mitchell says. The township will hold two public hearings then the three trustees will vote the proposal up or down. If approved, the fee would generate between $75,000 and $100,000 dollars a year. That’s not much for road projects but it would buy the township time as it seeks long-term solutions. If the license plate fee fails to materialize, residents would be asked to raise their taxes by approving a levy in 2016.