The wheel tax is making another go-round in Eau Claire. This time the Eau Claire City Council is re-visiting it—just under a different name.

Councilman Andrew Werthmann proposed it as the "safe roads and savings initiative." It's essentially the same thing as the vehicle registration fee the council rejected last year. And, some say a new name isn't fooling anyone.

With one income, a little girl and a pile of bills Jayne Larson is not prepared to dish out more money for a wheel tax.

"They raise cigarettes, they raise this, the raise that, they're taxing us to death," Larson says.

But, as he preps his lawn for the end of fall, Jim Gullicksrud says it's a small price to pay ahead of winter driving.

"The $10 fee would be more than appealing to me if they're going to do something with the streets," Gullicksrud says.

The man behind the proposal says the $430,000 the fee would bring in would allow the city to plow after two inches of snow, instead of three and prevent road maintenance cuts like seal coating.

"We can do one of two things: We can spend a little up front and invest in our roads and get more for our dollars or we can say 'no. You know what, I’m OK with spending $100s down the line or totally replacing our roads," Werthmann says.

Gullicksrud says he's for the streets. But, as she heads inside for supper, Larson says a wheel tax is a choice she can't afford.

"Unemployment is so bad right now,” Larson says. “How are they supposed to pay another tax? They have families too.”

Several people spoke up both for and against the tax at a public hearing on the city budget Tuesday night. Before council members vote on the “safe roads and savings initiative,” it would have to go to another public hearing in December. Then, if approved, the tax would take effect three months later.