Groveport City Council to introduce $5 motor vehicle license fee
The proposed annual fee would fund local street and bridge repairs and cannot be enacted as an emergency measure under state law.
Groveport City Council is scheduled on Monday, Oct. 26, to introduce legislation levying a municipal motor vehicle license fee on first reading, according to the published council agenda.
The council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, according to meeting records.
On the agenda, the measure is designated as Ordinance 2026-047.
The Groveport Municipal Building on Blacklick Street houses Council Chambers, where city council is scheduled to meet on Monday, Oct. 26.
Credit: Google Street View · © 2026 Google · Google Street View panorama QmwIwiM8GRgQpC0qirWaCA, captured August 2024
The legislation is introduced under state law authorizing a municipal corporation to levy an annual license fee of $5 per motor vehicle on vehicles registered within the municipality.
Under the statute, authorized purposes for the tax include road and bridge repairs, as well as planning, constructing, improving, and maintaining public roads, highways, streets, and viaducts.
The funds may also pay for traffic signals and signage, along with debt service charges on municipal bonds or notes issued for infrastructure improvements.
In addition, the statute allows the revenue to cover the municipality's share of costs for cooperating with the state transportation department on state highway projects.
State law explicitly prohibits enacting the vehicle tax as an emergency measure under state code or municipal charter.
The statute also provides that any measure levying the vehicle license tax is subject to a referendum under state law or the municipal charter.
According to state law, the municipal vehicle license fee continues in effect until repealed.
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Supporting evidence (3)
Groveport City Council is scheduled on Monday, Oct. 26, to introduce legislation levying a municipal motor vehicle license fee on first reading, according to the published council agenda.
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City Council · 2026-10-26 City Council · 2026-10-26 · Agenda · Call to Order · Moment of Silence · Pledge of Allegiance · Roll Call · Approval of Minutes #236-2026 · October 12, 2026 City Council Meeting Minutes · Business of Guests · Ordinances and Resolutions · 3rd Readings · 2nd Readings Ord. 2026-041 · AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO APPLY FOR AND ACCEPT A GRANT FROM THE MID-OHIO REGIONAL PLANNING COMMISSION FOR THE COLUMBUS URBANIZED AREA FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA) FUNDING FROM THE ENHANCED MOBILITY FOR OLDER ADULTS AND INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES PROGRAM (SECTION 5310), AND FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO EXECUTE ANY AGREEMENTS NECESSARY TO RECEIVE SAID GRANT FUNDING · 1st Readings Ord. 2026-042 · AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATION ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT, OHIO, FOR THE CALENDAR YEAR 2027 Ord. 2026-043 · AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2023-043 (ADOPTED 11/27/2023) , PART ONE - ADMINISTRATIVE CODE, TITLE NINE - TAXATION, OF THE CODIFIED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF GROVEPORT BY AMENDING CHAPTER 182, SECTION 182.013 - INCOME TAX Ord. 2026-044 · AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2024-006 (ADOPTED 2/26/2024) ESTABLISHING GOLF RATES AND FEES FOR THE GROVEPORT MUNICIPAL GOLF COURSE. Ord. 2026-045 · AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE GENERAL FEE SCHEDULE FOR THE CITY OF GROVEPORT Ord. 2026-046 · AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE ADMINISTRATOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH SETTERLIN FOR PROFESSIONAL DESIGN-BUILD SERVICES, WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING PURSUANT TO GROVEPORT CITY CHARTER SECTIONS 9.02(B) AND 7.03 Ord. 2026-047 · AN ORDINANCE TO LEVY A MUNICIPAL MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE FEE PURSUANT TO OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION 4504.173
The council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers, according to meeting records.
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{Body=City Council, Content type=Agendas, Document coverage=API text and document metadata; linked PDF bytes are not retained, Local time=6:30 PM, Location=Council Chambers, Meeting date=2026-10-26T00:00:00, Municipality=groveport, Status=Final}
On the agenda, the measure is designated as Ordinance 2026-047.
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Ord. 2026-047 · AN ORDINANCE TO LEVY A MUNICIPAL MOTOR VEHICLE LICENSE FEE PURSUANT TO OHIO REVISED CODE SECTION 4504.173
https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-4504.173
Supporting evidence (7)
The legislation is introduced under state law authorizing a municipal corporation to levy an annual license fee of $5 per motor vehicle on vehicles registered within the municipality.
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(A)(1) The legislative authority of a municipal corporation may levy an annual license tax upon the operation of motor vehicles on the public roads and highways in that municipal corporation for any authorized purpose. A tax levied under this section is in addition to the tax levied by sections 4503.02 and 4503.07 of the Revised Code and any other tax levied under this chapter. The tax shall be at the rate of five dollars per motor vehicle on all motor vehicles the district of registration of which is located in the municipal corporation levying the tax, as defined in section 4503.10 of the Revised Code.
Under the statute, authorized purposes for the tax include road and bridge repairs, as well as planning, constructing, improving, and maintaining public roads, highways, streets, and viaducts.
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(2) As used in division (A)(1) of this section, "authorized purpose" means any of the following:(a) Paying the costs and expenses of enforcing and administering the tax provided for in this section;(b) Planning, constructing, improving, maintaining, and repairing public roads, highways, and streets;(c) Maintaining and repairing bridges and viaducts;
The funds may also pay for traffic signals and signage, along with debt service charges on municipal bonds or notes issued for infrastructure improvements.
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(g) Paying debt service charges on notes or bonds of the municipal corporation issued for such purposes;(h) Purchasing, erecting, and maintaining street and traffic signs and markers;(i) Purchasing, erecting, and maintaining traffic lights and signals;(j) Supplementing revenue already available for the aforementioned purposes.
In addition, the statute allows the revenue to cover the municipality's share of costs for cooperating with the state transportation department on state highway projects.
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(d) Paying the municipal corporation's portion of the costs and expenses of cooperating with the department of transportation in the planning, improvement, and construction of state highways;
State law explicitly prohibits enacting the vehicle tax as an emergency measure under state code or municipal charter.
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(B)(1) No ordinance, resolution, or other measure levying a municipal motor vehicle license tax pursuant to this section shall be enacted as an emergency measure under section 731.30 of the Revised Code or pursuant to the charter of the municipal corporation.
The statute also provides that any measure levying the vehicle license tax is subject to a referendum under state law or the municipal charter.
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(2) An ordinance, resolution, or other measure levying a municipal motor vehicle license tax pursuant to this section is subject to a referendum as provided in sections 731.29 to 731.41 of the Revised Code or by the charter of the municipal corporation.
According to state law, the municipal vehicle license fee continues in effect until repealed.
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(C) A municipal motor vehicle license tax levied under this section continues in effect until repealed.