The Shasta County Air Pollution Control Board on Monday approved a $1.25 increase in the AB 2766 motor vehicle registration fee, voting 4-1 to raise the charge from $3 to $4.25 per vehicle.
According to the meeting transcript posted by the county, Air Pollution Control Officer Sean Ewing said the first $1 of the increase will reduce assessments to the City of Redding and Shasta County, while the rest of the revenue will go to restricted clean-air uses, including grant match funding. Ewing said the district has previously had to pass up some grant money because it lacked matching funds and said the change could help unlock about $150,000 more in grant funding per cycle.
The board then unanimously approved the Fiscal Year 26-27 budget for the Shasta County Air Quality Management District. Ewing said staffing remains at five positions and that the district will continue work on air-monitoring equipment upgrades with EPA IRA grant funds, while also finishing out the limited-duration wood-smoke program.
The transcript shows the budget action followed the fee vote, and that the district said the higher fee would begin generating revenue in October 2026.
