Pennington County Voters Reject Wheel Tax for Road Repairs

RAPID CITY, S.D. (AP) — Pennington County voters have rejected a proposed wheel tax to fund road and bridge repairs.

KEVN-TV reports that nearly 60 percent of the 10,000 people who voted in Tuesday's special election rejected the proposal.

County commissioners approved a wheel tax of up to $60 per vehicle last fall, but opponents gathered enough petition signatures to bring the matter to a public vote.

The Rapid City Journal reports that county officials said the tax would be necessary to qualify the county for bridge improvement grant funds from a state-run program. Opponents said it would add to people's tax burden.

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