“These kinds of proposals hit our most vulnerable the hardest: seniors on fixed incomes, working families already stretching every dollar, and anyone struggling to make ends meet” – mayoral candidate Matt Rosek, who criticized Spiegelberg’s comment.
Oconomowoc Mayor candidate Karen Spiegelberg once said during a public meeting: “So, I love the idea of the wheel tax, and I actually brought information on it.”
She then said she had talked to another official about “doing this,” and it fell “through the cracks. I love that idea.”
Spiegelberg asked whether the city would have the opportunity to set a wheel tax at $25 per vehicle. “Does Wisconsin DOT allow you each year to revisit that amount?” she asked at another point. “I just, I love that idea. I think it’s a no-brainer, especially when so many communities are doing it,” she added.
Spiegelberg now says she opposes wheel taxes and indicates the comments on audio were from six years ago and that the topic didn’t come to a vote but was rather a “robust discussion.”
A local community activist, Lou Kowieski, shared the video on Facebook. Conservative Alderman Matt Rosek is running against Spiegelberg for the open mayoral seat. We have also obtained the original audio file. When Spielberg insisted on Facebook that she’s actually against wheel taxes and accused her mayoral opponent, Rosek, of using the audio as a “soundbite,” Kowieski responded, “Well, it’s your voice.” Jennifer Aultman-Kloth, an alderman who is supporting Rosek, told Spiegelberg, “Karen… please be honest. Your dishonesty is disgraceful.”
“It’s been brought to my attention that a video is circulating the internet about my opponent’s support of a wheel tax! Let me be crystal clear: I oppose any new regressive taxes on our residents, including wheel taxes and additional debt that would burden our community,” Rosek wrote.
“These kinds of proposals hit our most vulnerable the hardest: seniors on fixed incomes, working families already stretching every dollar, and anyone struggling to make ends meet. If you elect me as your mayor, you will never see these regressive tax ideas reach the table. Period. I’m running to keep our city affordable for everyone.”
And we’ve also obtained an email in which Spiegelberg appeared open to the wheel tax notion.
In 2020, Spiegelberg wrote, “As you potentially look into the viability of a Transportation Utility Fee structure/possibility for Oconomowoc, I wanted to let you know that the city of Neenah did a successful version of this. They call the program they implemented TARF – Transportation Assessment Replacement Fee. I believe they had a study done by RA Smith which is what we would probably initially want – an independent study. Also I know that many communities in Wisconsin have implemented another way to enhance revenues – a “wheel tax” which is a fee added to the vehicle registration of cars in the community – about $6 -10 per vehicle per year. Beloit has implemented this as has Sheboygan and others. I believe the TUF would be most effective in dollars collected but it can also be controversial in a community. That said, I want to thank you for looking into all of this and considering the possibilities.”
Wisconsin Right Now reached out to Spiegelberg for comment. “I am doing a story for Wisconsin Right Now about your comments on audio and in an email relating to the wheel tax. Would you like to make any comment? I see in the Oconomowoc Enterprise that you said you are not for it. Why did you make the below comments on audio, then? Were you for it once? What changed your mind? Any comment on the context re the email?” we asked her, sharing the above quotes from the audio clips.
Spiegelberg, who is also on the City Council, wrote back, in full: “It is regretful that my opponent, Mr. Rosek keeps bringing up this topic as a soundbite in this campaign when I have said very clearly—no new taxes. Period. This was only a robust discussion item six years ago. There was no vote and I am not in support of a wheel tax now or under my leadership. Strong mayoral leadership requires proactively safeguarding our current revenue streams while identifying opportunities to control costs. Financial stewardship is not about overreacting; it’s about disciplined, comprehensive oversight.”
She added: “Oconomowoc remains a growing community with expanding tax base opportunities, and this should be the case for at least another decade. Although many Wisconsin municipalities and counties have had to implement a wheel tax because of declining growth and an inability to balance their budgets, it is not necessary for our financial health and I promise it will not be pursued under my leadership.”
She continued, “Furthermore, Mr. Rosek does not completely understand the proper uses of our city reserves/fund balances and has proposed spending them down and ‘returning the money to the taxpayers.’ Our reserves/fund balances are like our savings account for when our growth is not robust anymore. If he spends down the fund balances, he will be the first one looking for alternate sources of revenue – i.e. a wheel tax.”
