The Butler County commissioners will meet later this year to decide how to allocate the county’s nearly $2 million in Act 13 Marcellus Shale natural gas impact fees.

At a meeting Monday morning, Commissioner Bill McCarrier, board chairman, said he would be reluctant to make any decisions until he knows more about the state budget — which had a July 1 deadline but still has not been passed in Harrisburg.

“I would like to see how the budget comes out,” McCarrier said.

Commissioner Dale Pinkerton said it would be a good idea to hold off the decision, saying there is a chance some of the money may be needed for the county to pay bills without state money coming in. Commissioner Jim Eckstein concurred.

Chief clerk Amy Wilson said she could schedule a meeting in November or December.

“Then, things will be a lot clearer,” Wilson said.

Wilson said the $1.97 million in impact fees came to the county on July 1. She said the meeting to allocate impact fees normally takes place early in the following year, but since McCarrier, Pinkerton and Eckstein will not be in office in 2016, she said it made sense to allocate the money sooner.

So far, she said only $65,000 has been allocated. That is going to buying fire training trailers at the Butler County Community College. The same amount was allocated last year.

Additionally, Wilson said county bridge planner Kevin Grey has requested $300,000 for work on the Greece City bridge in Concord Township. And she said commissioners traditionally have given $240,000 to the 911 center and $50,000 to the drug court.

McCarrier said he does not want to raise taxes, noting the impact fee amount is nearly equal to one mill of property tax revenue for the county. He said some of the money could be used to fund departments to keep taxes low.

Pinkerton said the money could be used to balance the budget.