Is it coincidence that both Meth and wheel taxes are on the rise in Wisconsin? Correlation or causation?

Municipalities have increasingly leaned on the measure in recent years to fund road construction projects, offset special assessments or reduce borrowing; 13 of the 16 cities in Wisconsin that employ such a tax have passed it in the last two years, according to a USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin analysis.

A wheel tax is a charge tacked on to $75 annual registrations of vehicles 8,000 pounds or lighter — or most personal vehicles. Commercial vehicles are exempt from paying such taxes under state law. For processing the tax, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation takes a 17-cent cut of each registration, according to the agency’s website.

State guidelines also dictate that wheel taxes must be used strictly for transportation-related projects.