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Republicans Allow Counties To Raise BMV Fees In Transportation Budget Deal

Democrats and Republicans sit on the transportation budget bill conference committee.
Andy Chow
Democrats and Republicans sit on the transportation budget bill conference committee.

Republicans in the House and Senate have reached a compromise on the transportation budget. 

The House and Senate went back and forth in a joint committee on a number of issues, especially when it comes to raising fees.

In the end the House got their measure allowing counties to hike the vehicle registration fee by $5. Republican Representative Rob McColley says this can provide a boost to local road projects.

“With cars becoming more fuel efficient, people driving less miles the strain is being put on our local governments and they’ve asked for assistance they’ve asked for help.”

The transportation budget also creates avenues to increase deputy registrar fees and for utilities to tack on fees to your electric bill for economic development projects. A measure that guaranteed nearly $50 million to local projects was pulled.  

The bill is now set to go before the full House and Senate. 

Copyright 2017 The Statehouse News Bureau

Andy Chow is a general assignment state government reporter who focuses on environmental, energy, agriculture, and education-related issues. He started his journalism career as an associate producer with ABC 6/FOX 28 in Columbus before becoming a producer with WBNS 10TV.