FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 9, 2003

MAYOR ANNOUNCES PROPOSED MOTOR VEHICLE WEIGHT TAX RATE TO FUND SHOPO PAY HIKES

            Mayor Jeremy Harris announced today that he has sent to the City Council a bill for their consideration that will raise the motor vehicle weight  tax rate to fund the SHOPO wage increases.

            The proposed bill raises the passenger tax rate from .0125 cents per pound to 2.00 cents per pound (an increase of 3/4^th of one penny). The commercial tax rate is presently .02 cents per pound. That rate would increase to .025 or one half penny per pound.

             If the Council approves the increase, it would go into effect in January, 2004, and would generate $6.5 million in revenues to help pay for police salary increases.

             The last increase of the vehicle weight tax was in January of 1990.

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