Ridgefield City Hall at 230 Pioneer St.
Ridgefield residents will be paying a little more to renew their car tabs starting in June as the city council approved a $20 fee to help fund road repair.
Council voted 6-1 to approve an ordinance bringing about the fee increase late last month. As per state law, the increase will go into effect June 18, 180 days from its adoption.
Previous estimates on revenues generated had fee collections in 2020, the first full year of implementation, at $143,000, increasing to $188,000 in 2024. Those funds will be used to repair and improve existing roads in the city that could not receive impact fee funds from new development.
Former Ridgefield City Manager Steve Stuart said “the majority” of residential streets would see repair in a 10-year timeframe should council approve the fee. He explained that although the council has marked more funding for roads in recent years, including going from $40,000 annually in 2013 to $175,000 this year, relying on general fund subsidies wasn’t sustainable in the long run.
Councilor Darren Wertz was the lone “no” vote on the ordinance, according to meeting minutes.
