## What happened
The mayor told council the state now requires every local government to run its own wheel tax to keep receiving state paving dollars, so the city is creating a city wheel tax matched to what county residents already pay rather than charging both. [Explanation, 2:17:52](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8ap9H0zd4&t=8272)

Councilperson Cheryl Loudermilk raised concerns that the state's vehicle-registration system might misroute city residents' payments to the county instead of the city; the mayor said an audit is planned after the first few months to check. [Councilperson Loudermilk's concern, 2:21:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8ap9H0zd4&t=8479)

## Who it affects
If you register a vehicle inside Terre Haute city limits, you'll now pay a city wheel tax and excise surtax instead of the county's — the city says the total shouldn't go up, but says it's watching to make sure the state routes the money correctly.

## The outcome
General Ordinance 6-2026 was adopted as amended by unanimous voice vote [General Ordinance 6-2026 adopted, 2:23:39](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8ap9H0zd4&t=8619), and its companion, General Ordinance 7-2026, was adopted the same way later in the meeting. [General Ordinance 7-2026 adopted, 2:34:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8ap9H0zd4&t=9246)

## Sources
- [Mayor explains the state mandate, 2:17:52](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8ap9H0zd4&t=8272)
- [Councilperson Loudermilk on BMV routing risk, 2:21:19](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8ap9H0zd4&t=8479)
- [General Ordinance 6-2026 adopted, 2:23:39](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8ap9H0zd4&t=8619)
- [General Ordinance 7-2026 adopted, 2:34:06](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bL8ap9H0zd4&t=9246)

*Also known as: city wheel tax Terre Haute · vehicle registration fee Terre Haute · motor vehicle excise surtax · is the wheel tax a double tax · General Ordinance 6 2026 · General Ordinance 7 2026*