It might cost more to own a car in Montgomery County next year

Montgomery County Commissioners on Tuesday set dates for two public hearings required before they can raise the price of vehicle registrations and renewals another $5 a year.

The tax is expected to generate about $2 million a year for the Montgomery County Engineer’s Office through use of a new law in the state transportation budget that passed in March. By statute, the additional revenue can only be spent on planning, constructing, improving, maintaining and repairing public roads, highways, streets and bridges.

FULL REPORT: Montgomery County plans to raise vehicle license fees; hearings set

“None of the roads are in a condition I’d like them to be in,” said Paul Gruner, Montgomery County engineer.

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The public hearings will be Feb. 20 and 27 at the end of regularly scheduled county commission meetings that begin at 1:30 p.m. in room 1001 at the County Administration Building, 451 West Third St., Dayton.

The new fee could hit vehicle owners is January 2019 at the earliest.

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Most vehicle owners in the county already pay permissive motor vehicle license taxes of $20, the limit until the new law took effect in June. Annual taxes would climb to $25 for many, assessed on top of the base passenger vehicle registration of $34.50 a year.

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