The Butler County commissioners say they are undecided on how they will vote this week on setting a $5 fee for vehicles registered in the county.

Revenue generated by the fee would fund county bridge and road work. The $5 would be added to drivers' registration fees.

The commissioners said they still are seeking public and municipal government input on the issue before making a decision.

Commissioner Leslie Osche, board chairman, pointed out there is time before the meeting Thursday.

However, she said just because the state enacted legislation enabling counties to set the fee, passed on the responsibility of funding road work does not mean the county should do the same.

“I would like the buck to stop here,” Osche said.

Commissioner Kim Geyer said she still is receiving feedback.

“I've been talking to everybody I can talk to,” Geyer said.

She agreed with Osche there is time to consider which way to go.

“I haven't really made a decision yet,” Geyer said.

However, she stressed the need to find funding for infrastructure work.

“The federal funding is not there right now,” Geyer said.

Commissioner Kevin Boozel reiterated he was opposed to the fee from the onset, but has not made a final decision yet.

“I'm still weighing it out,” he said.

Boozel said it's premature to decide which way he will vote on the issue.

“I want to have a discussion with Leslie and Kim in an open meeting,” he said.

Boozel said the $2 million incentive offered by the state Department of Transportation to enact the fee is funding that should not require the county adopting the fee.

“That $2 million should be coming anyway,” he said.

The county estimates netting $920,000 annually from the fee; 34 of the county's 134 bridges are in need of repair.

The county estimates the cost to repair a bridge in-house would be $500,000 and the price of paving roads to last up to 10 years is roughly $100,000 per mile.

The commissioners previously said any money not needed for county projects would be used to aid municipalities with their infrastructure needs.

Osche said she has received more positive than negative feedback about the fee.

While the county received roughly 20 phone calls protesting the fee, Osche said at least 30 people she has talked to in person have expressed support.

“I'm getting positive feedback,” she said.

She said some emailed complaints did not list names and addresses, so they cannot be verified as comments coming from Butler County residents.

Geyer said she also received positive feedback and was able to sway critics once she explained the financial need.

According to Geyer, PennDOT stated senior drivers who pay the $10 reduced vehicle registration fee would be exempt from the $5 tack-on fee.

The commissioners are set to vote on the ordinance at their next meeting, which will be held Thursday instead of Wednesday due to the 2017 primary.

No one protested at the meeting this past Wednesday, but two municipal employees expressed support for it.