Title
Resolution introduced by Alderpersons Croatt and Jirschele at the December 17, 2014 Common Council meeting relating to the recently adopted wheel tax:
#33-R-14 - Croatt/Jirschele
"Whereas
the continuous maintaining of the infrastructure within the city limits is critical to long term growth, financial stability, and overall sustainability of services for citizens.
And Whereas
the Common Council recently adopted a new means of funding street reconstruction projects and the action taken replaced an existing funding mechanism that was in place for decades.
And Whereas
the previous funding mechanism, special assessments levied to impacted property owners, was intact for 2014 and previous years and it was deemed a financial burden for many thus spurring the discussion to make changes to the funding mechanism.
And Whereas
the property owners that were assessed for street projects in 2014 and previous years incurred large special assessment bills for the streets reconstructed in front of their properties and may also be contributing to the new funding program via the wheel tax beginning on January 1st, 2015.
And Whereas
the adoption of the wheel tax essentially provides no direct relief to those that were assessed in 2014 and actually penalizes those property owners by having them pay the special assessment in 2014 and the new wheel tax beginning in 2015.
Therefore be it Resolved
the City of Appleton Finance and Public Works Departments explore any and all options to provide assistance, financial or other, to those that were recently assessed based on the funding mechanism that was in place prior to the wheel tax being adopted by the Common Council. Any and all options are to be presented to the Finance Committee for thorough review, discussion and possible action."