Greenfield residents shouldn't be paying Milwaukee's $20 Wheel Tax, but some are being charged for it.
Dan O'Donnell of 620 WTMJ reports:
Thomas Krueger lives in an apartment complex in Greenfield and got a huge surprise when he received his license plate renewal application this year.
"I saw it was for $95 and I knew there was an increase in fees so I didn't think too much of it," he recalled. "But then I went to renew [the plates] online, saw the itemized list, and saw there was a $20 wheel tax."
"I was pretty sure there was no wheel tax in Greenfield, so I looked it up and it was the City of Milwaukee [tax] they wanted to charge me."
How did this happen?
Supposedly, the problem can be traced to zip codes and computers.
"We use the location where the vehicle is kept to determine whether the wheel tax is due or not," said Wisconsin Department of Motor Vehicles Vehicle Records chief Linda Lewis. "The customer identifies that on their title and registration application."
When drivers move or change the location at which they store their vehicles, they must specify such changes on their renewal forms.
Krueger insists he has always stored his car at his apartment complex in Greenfield, yet the state's records erroneously show his address as being located in the City of Milwaukee. A likely reason is that his zip code is 53227, which covers addresses in Greenfield, West Allis, and Milwaukee.
"If the customer doesn't identify where the vehicle is kept on their application or renewal form, we can't tell in a lot of cases," explained Lewis. "In those situations, where it could be either the City of Milwaukee or the City of Greenfield, so then the computer defaults to the City of Milwaukee."
What's strange about Krueger's case is he has been trying to identify where his vehicle is kept and provide a correct address for about ten years. TEN YEARS.
When trying to update his address on the DMV website, his zip code wasn't valid for Greenfield. Krueger says a DMV employee told him the zip code was only valid for Milwaukee and West Allis.
It's not too much to expect that the DMV computers should recognize correct zip codes and addresses.
Bottom line: Krueger lives in Greenfield and should not be paying a Milwaukee tax.
It's so important to look over tax assessments carefully. Krueger caught the problem, but how many people just paid without noticing the charge?
How much money has Milwaukee hauled in because the computer defaults to the City of Milwaukee?
If you feel you've been incorrectly assessed the City of Milwaukee wheel tax, you can call the DMV's Vehicle Records Section at (608) 266-3666.
If you believe that you erroneously paid the tax without realizing it, you can call the DMV's Research and Information Section at (608) 266-1466 or send a written request for a refund to:
Department of Transportation
P.O. Box 8070
Madison, WI 53708-8070
What are the odds that the DMV will answer requests and be sending out refunds in a timely fashion?
I would say they aren't good.
You may get a refund, but you might have to be very persistent and very patient.
The Department of Transportation doesn't exactly have a good track record.
More, from GreenfieldNOW:
Greenfield residents are urged to keep a close eye on their vehicle registration bills.
Mayor Michael Neitzke said today that numerous Greenfield residents have been charged $20 for a wheel tax that is only applicable to city of Milwaukee residents. The tax, approved earlier this year, charges a fee for cars and light trucks kept in Milwaukee to help pay for street improvements.
Neitzke believes the problem comes from the numerous ZIP codes shared by the two municipalities, an issue he considers a major problem.
..."Don't pay it," he said. "Greenfield residents shouldn't be charged for a Milwaukee tax."
Don't pay it? Oh, come on, Mr. Mayor.
Spread the wealth around. This is the Age of Obama.
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