Frequently Asked Questions

Municipal Services Payments to Counties and Local Governments

Frequently Asked Questions(FAQ)

What payments are processed by the Bureau of Municipal Services?

The bureau annually processes payments for:

  1. Municipal Liquid Fuels (MLF)
  2. County Liquid Fuels (CLF)
  3. State Police Fines (SPF)
  4. Turnback Program (TB) and
  5. Act 44

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Who receives the funds?

The funds are distributed to the municipal and county governments in the Commonwealth of PA.

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When are the funds distributed?

Municipal Liquid fuels are paid on April 1st each year to all municipalities meeting eligibility requirements. Typically, it can take a year or more until all municipalities are eligible and receive payments. Funds not distributed within two (2) years lapse and cannot be paid.

County Liquid fuels and State Police fines payments are made each June and December.

Turnback maintenance payments are made April 1st each year.

The municipal share of Act 44 funds ($30 million) are included in the April 1st payment to municipalities.

County Act 44 bridge payments ($5 million) are made in December.

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Are there eligibility requirements for receiving the funds?

In order to qualify for the municipal liquid fuels allocation municipal governments must submit:

  • annual reports to PennDOT (due by January 31st) and to the Department of Community and Economic Development (due March 15th)
  • all contractor responsibility holds placed by the Department of Revenue or the Department of Labor and Industry must be resolved
  • the municipality must also own and maintain roadways
  • any outstanding liquid fuels reimbursements resulting from audits or monitoring reviews must be reimbursed
  • County governments are required to submit:

  • an annual report to PennDOT (due by January 31st)
  • State Police Fines are distributed to municipal governments only. In order to qualify, the municipalities must own and maintain roadways.

    In order to be eligible for County Act 44 Bridge funds, the counties must own and maintain bridges.

    Municipalities receive Turnback maintenance payments based upon the miles of roads turned-back to the municipality. See PennDOT's Pub 9 for more information.

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    How are the funds allocated?

    Municipal liquid fuels and State Police fines are allocated by local roadway mileage and population per enabling legislation. The Bureau of Municipal Services maintains the official inventory of local road mileage and turnback miles. Population is based on official United States Census reports.

    County liquid fuels are distributed based upon historical gas consumption rates.

    County Act 44 Bridge funds are distributed based upon square feet of bridge deck area of county owned bridges.

    Turnback maintenance funds are distributed on the basis of $4,000 per turnback mile.

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    How are the funds appropriated?

    Liquid fuels funds are collected by the Department of Revenue and accumulate in separate appropriations. Monies available in the appropriations, based upon liquid fuels sales, are distributed accordingly.

    Act 44 Funds are received by the Department of Transportation from the PA Turnpike Commission. The amounts for municipalities and counties are fixed.

    Turnback Maintenance funds are set-aside from the Motor License fund in a separate appropriation.

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    Do all municipalities receive municipal liquid fuels funding?

    No. As of January 2012, five municipalities receive no funding since they have no locally owned roadways.

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    Approximately how much money is distributed?

    Over $350 million dollars are distributed annually. The approximate amount of each in millions is:

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    For more information, refer to:

    Pub 9 "Policies and Procedures for the Administration of the County Liquid Fuels Tax Act of 1931 and Act 44 of 2007 AND the Liquid Fuels Tax Act 655 Dated 1956 and as Amended"*
    (* Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader to view)

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