Utah drivers will likely see the cost of registering a vehicle jump by $20 next year, because Republicans in the House and Senate are now in agreement on the increase.
Rep. Mike Noel, R-Kanab, said he thinks Utah residents will be "pleased," if legislators are able to balance the budget given the current situation and raise the vehicle registration fee by only $20.
House Republicans voted to back the car fee increase on Monday, joining Senate Republicans who took the same position last week.
Senate President Michael Waddoups, R-Taylorsville, said that doesn't mean the book is closed this session on tax hikes -- including raising the cigarette tax and the sales tax on food.
"The governor is still desirous to have a smaller reduction on [programs]. To do that, we're going to have to continue to talk about tax enhancements," Waddoups said.
A new vehicle registration fee hike would generate about $50 million a year, which legislative leaders had already built into the budget framework they are working on in negotiation with Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr.
Huntsman had included the fee increase in his budget plan, dedicating the revenues to road projects. Legislators, however, will use part of it for roads, part of it for buildings and $16 million of it to try to save "crucial" government programs from the chopping block.
The current vehicle registration fee varies based on the weight and class of the vehicle, but the state assesses a $21 fee on most standard cars.
It took two votes and the urging of House Speaker Dave Clark, R-Santa Clara, before the car registration fee got the 38 votes for the Republican caucus to adopt it as its position. That 38-vote threshold is what it would take to pass the fee increase in the House.
"We are not out of time, but it's something that is becoming more precious," Clark told his colleagues.
Rep. Kay McIff, R-Richfield, tried one last time to sell House Republicans on raising the food tax, and Rep. Paul Ray, R-Clearfield, made a pitch for the cigarette tax. But neither gained traction.
