Vote on $5 Centre County Vehicle Fee Increase Set for May 9

Centre County residents will know May 9 if they have to tack an additional $5 onto their annual Pennsylvania vehicle registration fee.

At the Centre County Board of Commissioners meeting April 25, the board voted to advertise an ordinance proposing to levy an additional $5 vehicle registration fee for county residents with non-exempt vehicles for public review. Funds raised by the new measure would be used as liquid fuel funds for bridge and transportation projects within the county.

A vote on the measure is expected to occur during the Tuesday, May 9, meeting of the board.

At the April 18 meeting of the commissioners, questioned were raised concerning the additional $2 million in a funding match the state kicked in to encourage counties to adopt such an ordinance, and whether Centre County would still be eligible for that funding if a “sunset clause” was added to the language of the ordinance.

The clause, as approved by the board of commissioners, allows the county to opt out of the program if the 2022 board of commissioners felt the program was no longer necessary.

Mike Bloom, a senior planner in the county’s planning department, said he contacted authorities at the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and confirmed the $2 million in available match funding would still be available if such a clause was included in the ordinance.

‘TIMING IS CRUCIAL’

Bloom explained that the state set aside a fund, containing an unknown amount of dollars, for counties that adopt an ordinance to add the fee and use collected revenue for transportation and bridge projects. He said each county has set aside a certain amount of matching money for liquid fuels; however, he noted the amounts set aside in each county varied according to need, and although a dollar amount was established for each county, he said he feels that funding could eventually dry up as more counties adopt the program.

“Timing is crucial for a vote from commissioners,” said Bloom. He said 14 counties are already taking advantage of the matching funds through the program, and “a handful” more are working toward adopting the measure, much like Centre County.

The preliminary document was introduced to the county at the April 18 meeting. Chairman Commissioner Michael Pipe, who has spearheaded the effort to bring information to county vehicle owners concerning the Act 89 initiative, said the proposed ordinance was modeled after a template ordinance already enacted by several counties in the commonwealth.

Since January, Pipe has been distributing information and seeking input concerning the proposal and surveyed municipalities in the community concerning their interest in such a fee. He has also headed up a series of three town hall meetings, complete with PowerPoint presentations of how the fee with be collected and how the county benefits from such a fee.

Of the 19 municipalities that responded to the survey, 12 were in favor of the measure, including the townships of Boggs, College, Gregg, Patton, Potter and Spring, and the boroughs of Centre Hall, Milesburg, Millheim, Snow Shoe, State College and Unionville. Those not in favor of enacting the fee were Haines, Halfmoon, Harris, Penn and Snow Shoe townships and Bellefonte Borough. Ferguson Township replied that it is a decision for the commissioners to make and would support whichever action the board takes.

According to Pipe, PennDOT numbers recently reflected there were 120,537 non-exempt vehicles in Centre County. Exempt vehicles are used for public needs, and include plow trucks, police cars and emergency medical services vehicles. Also included in the exempt status are about 1,317 retired county residents who receive the special discounted registration fee.

Pipe said the county stands to generate nearly $600,000 in additional transportation funding through the measure, and with liquid fuel funding and the state’s match, could reach enough to hit the maximum state match of $2 million.

Commissioner Steve Dershem, who has publicly expressed his disdain for the program and adding another “tax” to residents, motioned to advertise the proposed ordinance.

“I don’t support this surcharge, but I will support publishing this for more public comment,” said Dershem.

The public viewing of the ordinance will be published in a local newspaper and on the county’s website.

For more information, visit www.centrecounty.gov.