The question of repealing the $22 biennial motor vehicle registration tax is being sent to three committees for consideration.
The Haines Borough Assembly on Tuesday sent the issue to the Public Safety Commission, Finance Committee and Government Affairs and Services Committee.
Assembly member George Campbell is pushing for repeal of the tax, which was passed in October 2013 to help raise funds to clean up junked and abandoned vehicles around the borough.
Two residents spoke in support of the repeal Tuesday. Ed Bryant called the tax a “stupid idea,” reiterating that he was opposed to it in 2013 and he is still opposed to it now.
“Let’s repeal this. I don’t even think we need a committee. Let’s just do it,” Bryant said.
Resident Tim Ackerman said the tax comes down to penalizing law-abiding citizens for the irresponsibility of others. “If I go my entire lifetime in the city here and I never abandon my truck downtown, why should I have to pay for somebody else’s truck that is derelict or abandoned? It just doesn’t make any sense.”
The assembly set a Feb. 28 deadline for the committees to submit their recommendations.
The Finance Committee will meet at 5 p.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 10 to discuss the potential repeal.