The fee-rate brackets idea

Here’s how Rep. Frank Henderson, R-Post Falls, explained his idea about changing the bracket for car and light truck registration fees, a proposal that raises $3.1 million without changing registration fees, back in March:

Henderson said he’s been promoting his idea about changing the “bands,” or groupings, for car and light truck registration fees for the past year, dropping to three groups rather than five. “I’ve submitted that idea for over a year, but nobody ever picked up on it,” he said. “By doing that, that system increases revenue by 16 percent, whatever you charge for fees.” The reason? “Right now, if you buy a new car, you pay $48 for two years.” After that, the rate drops for a two- or three-year-old car. “The new system is four years - and it’s so slight that it’s harmless … You can raise revenue by 16 percent without hurting the public.” Added Henderson, “The mathematics is obvious.”

One possible source of opposition is raised, however, if that concept stands alone, because that approach doesn’t change registration fees for heavy trucks at all. Some object to collecting more for registration for cars but not for heavy trucks, saying trucks cause more damage to roads and should pay their fair share.