The Transportation Invest­ment Moves the Economy in the 21st Century (Time21) bill passed during the 2007 Legislative session and takes effect Jan. 1, 2009. The Time21 bill will increase title fees, trailer fees (including travel trailers) and some renewable registration fees, according to Appanoose County Treasurer Mary Kay Williams.

The legislative intent of the bill is to fund the repair of Iowa’s rapidly deteriorating roads and bridges. Iowa is ranked fifth in the nation in the number of bridges with 24,753 bridges and thirteenth in the nation with 114,000 miles of highways, roads and streets but has the forty-eighth worst urban interstate pavement conditions, thirty-fifth worst rural interstate pavement conditions, forty-fifth worst primary highway (non-interstate) conditions and thirty-third worst percentage of bridges that are structurally deficient or functionally obsolete, according to Iowa Department of Transportation.

With implementation of the Time21 bill, the additional funding will begin to address the road and bridge infrastructure problems with an additional $200 million in annual revenue over the next twenty years.

“As a result,” says Williams, “January 1, 2009 title fees, regular and semi trailers and travel trailer registration fees will increase. Regular title fees will increase from the current $15 fee to $25. Trailers with a weight of 2000 lbs or less (small regular trailers) will increase from the current $10/year to $20/year. Trailers with a weight of more than 2000 lbs (regular, gooseneck and semi-trailers) will increase from $10/year to $30/year. Travel trailers are registered according to the square footage and that will increase from $.20 per square foot to $.30 per square foot.“

“Jan. 1, 2009 registration fees will increase for newly purchased 2009 model year pickup trucks and special trucks and newly purchased used trucks. The fee for 2009 new and used pickups with a 3 ton license will increase from $65 per year to $150 per year for vehicles less than seven model years. Pickup trucks older than seven model years, with a 3 ton license, will gradually be phased down to $50 per year”, states Williams.

“Registration fees on currently owned pickup trucks will NOT increase, but due to a revised rate scale they will take longer to reduce to the minimum fee of $50 at twelve model years old, “ Williams adds.

Williams goes on to say, “New 2010 model year and beyond pickup trucks which are used for business trade (commercial or agriculture) will be $150 for the three ton license. Those with higher tonnage licenses will be in accordance with the new price scale. In order to receive a business trade or special farm plate and the special registration fee, the owner must file a Schedule C or Schedule F form with the Federal Internal Revenue Service and be eligible for depreciation under Section 167 of the Internal Revenue Code. If the pickup truck is used for personal use, it will be assessed an increased registration fee according to the weight of the truck and the list price of the truck when it was brand new. This is the same registration scale as cars and multi-purpose vehicles.”

Williams says the registration fee for cars and multi-purpose vehicles will be adjusted up to a minimum fee of $50.

December registration renewal notices have been mailed to vehicle owners and there are two notices with two options of payment. One option is to pay before Dec. 31, 2008 at the current registration fee and the second option has an amount due for payment in Jan. 1, 2009. Some vehicles will remain the same for payment in December 2008 or January 2009, others will reflect the new registration fee increase. Williams urges customers to review their renewal notice(s). Some may wish to renew their vehicle registration(s) in December before the fee increase takes affect January 1, 2009. Mailed renewals must be received in the county treasurer’s office on or before December 31, 2008 in order to pay the current rate. Mail received January 1, 2009 or after, is subject to the registration fee increase.

If purchasing a vehicle in December, Williams says the dealer which the vehicle was purchased from must have the paperwork, along with the payment of fees, to the county treasurer’s office prior to Dec. 31 in order to receive the advantage of the current registration fee. If a customer purchases a vehicle from a private individual, the paperwork and payment of fees must be in the county treasurer’s office prior to December 31.

“The Treasurer’s office will close at 12 NOON on Dec. 31, 2008, so please keep that in mind,” says Williams.

Those having questions may call the Appanoose County Treasurer’s motor vehicle department at 856-3097, or email Williams at mkwilliams@appanoosecounty. net or Janet Davis at: jdavis@appanoosecounty.net.