Vote YES on WC-1
EVs don’t have to pay for local roads.
It’s time for a policy update.
The Issue
Washoe County’s roads are primarily funded by gas taxes. The rapid rise of electric and hybrid vehicles raises funding concerns.
WC-1: Streets and Highways Funding Advisory Question asks Washoe County voters whether electric and hybrid vehicles should help contribute to local road funding through an annual road use fee.
Why vote YES?
Everyone who uses the roads should help maintain them. It’s only fair.
Well-maintained roads means better safety and fewer vehicle repairs for all drivers.
Vehicles have changed, while road funding has not. We need an updated system to protect our roads into the future.
It keeps it FAIR for all vehicles using roads.
It keeps the roads and ourselves SAFE.
Our FUTURE depends
on it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Read the 2025 Guinn Center study for more information.
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WC-1 is a non-binding advisory question that will appear on the 2026 general election ballot in Washoe County. The vote itself does not create a fee or change the law. Any future fee would require action by the Nevada Legislature. It’s simply a way to tell state lawmakers whether voters support an annual road use fee for electric and hybrid passenger vehicles registered in Washoe County.
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The road use fee would apply to electric and hybrid passenger vehicles registered in Washoe County. Gasoline-powered vehicles would not be subject to this fee.
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Gasoline-powered vehicles contribute to local road funding through gas taxes. Electric vehicles do not purchase gasoline, and hybrid vehicles generally purchase less gasoline than comparable gasoline-powered vehicles. The road use fee is intended to provide another way for these vehicles to contribute to local road funding.
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No amount has been set. WC-1 asks voters whether they support the concept of an annual road use fee. The fee amount would be determined through the legislative process.
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Revenue would be dedicated to transportation projects that reduce traffic congestion, repair and maintain roads, and increase safety in Washoe County.
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No. Electric, hybrid, and gas-powered vehicle owners pay the same registration fees and taxes. The road use fee would help supplement unpaid gas taxes, which make up a significant portion of local road funding.
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Road usage and the cost of maintenance are both increasing, while funding from gas taxes is decreasing. This creates a funding gap, which will only widen as more drivers choose electric and hybrid vehicles.
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Yes, most of them. Nevada is one of only nine states that have not adopted other road use fees for electric and hybrid vehicles.
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Washoe County has explored several ways to address changes in road funding, including vehicle-miles-traveled (VMT) fees and electric charging station taxes.
However, implementing a VMT system would require a new way to track and administer mileage, making it very complicated and costly to establish. And EV charging happens in many different places, including at private homes, making it difficult to consistently measure and collect the appropriate tax amount. The 2025 Guinn Center study discusses each option in depth.
The road use fee is the most practical short-term option because it would use existing vehicle registration systems, be relatively straightforward to administer, and provide predictable revenue.
