MontCo Commissioners OK $5 Vehicle Registration Fee

The Montgomery County Commissioners approved a $5 vehicle registration fee 2-1 at Thursday's commissioners meeting, but the vote did not go ahead without controversy. The fee is allowable through the state's 2013 Transportation Bill, or Act 89, which states as of 2015 counties are able to impose a $5 on nonexempt vehicle registered to an address located in the county. The state's vehicle registration fee for passenger vehicles is $36, motorcycles $18, and truck fees are contingent on the vehicle's weight according to the Pennsylvania Department of Motor Vehicles.

Commissioner John Gale was the sole dissenter, saying the county has reached a historically high level of infrastructure funding, according to The Reporter.

"It's practically comical to say that we have a revenue problem with infrastructure," Gale said at the meeting. "We don't have a revenue problem. We have a cost problem." Gale attempted to table the fee discussion, but neither Commissioner Chair Josh Shapiro nor Commissioner Vice Chair Valerie Arkoosh seconded the motion.

Shapiro said called Thursday's vote "critically important" because it ensures a year of fee collection in 2017 which will allow the county to "maximize (it's) investment in infrastructure.”

The funds generated from the fee are estimated to be about $3.5 million and will be used for bridge, road, and other infrastructural projects. Arkoosh said the county is in a "real serious situation" due to a lack of attention on decaying infrastructure. She said the current administration came into office with 62 structurally deficient bridges.

Gale said the county should be able to repair and maintain its infrastructure without burdening residents with fees. Gale's website refers to the fee as "another government grab for (residents) hard earned money."

Image via Shutterstock