Centre County commissioners heard a midyear update July 22 on the county's fee-for-local-use program, a $5 vehicle registration fee dedicated to county and municipal road and bridge work. Staff said the fund totals $2,187,802.64 in available revenue and that $1,325,135.77 has been committed to project allocations, leaving an unallocated balance of $862,667.57.

The program's purpose and reach. The presentation, delivered by a county staff member, summarized the fee for local use alongside other transportation funding sources, including Act 13 impact fees and the Liquid Fuel Tax Act of 1931. Staff said the county passed a local-use ordinance on May 19, 2017, and renewed program authority by resolution no. 3 of 2022. The county does not own roads or bridges; funds are directed to municipal infrastructure.

Why it matters. The nut graf: staff said the $5 registration fee provides a flexible funding source that helps jurisdictions complete projects they otherwise could not afford, and that pairing the fee with other grants narrowed a multi-year funding gap for county transportation work.

Key figures and outcomes. Staff reported $1,011,536.24 in fee-for-local-use grant funding has been used to complete 24 projects across the county. Another $533,066.37 in grant payments remain outstanding and will be dispersed upon project completion. From 2018 through 2025, staff said combining the local-use fee with other sources supported approximately $3,408,000 in transportation projects, and that adding the $5 registration fee reduced a previously identified $6,199,000 funding shortfall by about $1,400,000.

How projects are prioritized. Staff described the county's prioritization criteria: project need (current condition and service level), public-safety impact, past county contributions to a municipality, and municipal or other partner contributions. Staff also said municipalities are not required to provide a match to be considered for funding.

Local examples and distribution. Commissioners and staff noted projects were spread across many townships and boroughs rather than concentrated in a single area. Staff identified bridge projects in Howard and Bellefonte boroughs as examples where the fee-supported repairs prevented long detours or the loss of primary access for neighborhoods.

Next steps and process. Staff told commissioners the annual transportation-project application cycle opens in August and encouraged municipalities to submit applications. Commissioners asked whether the $5 fee is the statutory limit; staff responded that $5 is the limit and that roughly 35 to 40 Pennsylvania counties have adopted the fee.

Questions and context. Commissioners praised the report's charts and maps showing completed and pending projects. No formal policy change or new appropriation was approved during the briefing: commissioners received the update and discussed the application cycle for remaining funds.