The Longview City Council has approved an ordinance reducing the city’s vehicle tab fee by $20 while increasing the local sales tax by 1/10th of 1% to fund road maintenance and transportation projects.

The change takes effect January first, reducing the annual car tab fee from $40 to $20. The city estimates the sales tax increase will generate an additional $700,000 annually for the Transportation Benefit District, bringing its yearly funding to about $1.9 million.

The ordinance is the first step in a two-part plan. The city is considering asking voters in 2027 to eliminate the remaining $20 car tab fee and approve another one-tenth-of-one-percent sales tax increase, which could bring annual transportation funding to about $2.6 million.

The additional funding could support neighborhood paving, bridge preservation, sidewalk and accessibility improvements, and other transportation projects.

City officials say the changes are expected to reduce taxes for nearly all Longview residents while also having people who shop in the city, including visitors, help pay for local roads. Council Member Keith Young said if it was up to him, he would rather just do it all now if they could.