In September the Milwaukee Common Council adopted a Motor Vehicle Registration Fee (MVRF) to help pay for badly needed street maintenance and paving projects. After receiving an increase in calls about this new fee for vehicle owners, Alderman Puente would like to make sure you have the facts.

The new fee is $20 for automobiles, light trucks and station wagons registered in the City of Milwaukee. The revenue from the registration fee will be used to settle special assessment charges against neighboring property owners for roadway paving projects and to lower assessment rates on alleys and sidewalks. The funds will also be used for maintenance of streets and/or street lighting and traffic control. The $20 registration fee increase will show up on bills for December renewals that were mailed beginning October 31, 2008.

Several other assessments will have modifications. There will still be a special assessment for alleys, sidewalks, and driveways, but rates are lower for alleys and sidewalks than in 2008.

Only projects approved after April 15, 2009, are adopted into the resolution, and therefore projects approved before that date will not receive a lowered assessment.

To inquire about possible repaving of your street please call 286-2460 and DPW will check to see if any future paving is scheduled.