Hughes County Commission Approves Wheel Tax Hike

The Hughes County Commission has voted to increase the county's wheel tax to raise more money for roads and bridges.

The tax will rise by $2 per wheel or $8 per vehicle, doubling the current tax to the state maximum of $4 per wheel or $16 per vehicle. It will generate about $350,000 per year.

Proposals to increase the county's wheel tax have failed in the past. Voters defeated a referred measure in 1995, and in 2008 county commissioners rejected another proposal after a Pierre resident threatened to refer it.

David Braun of Pierre says he plans to start circulating petitions to refer the latest measure to a public vote.