VIDALIA &045; In hopes of occupying a new building, the Department of Motor Vehicles is asking the Concordia Parish Police Jury to approve a $3 service fee on driver’s license and registration transactions.

Public Information Officer with the state DMV office Michelle Rayburn said the state office has made a request and is waiting for a decision from the Police Jury.

Police Jury Secretary Russell Wagoner said the matter would be discussed at jurors’ next meeting, Monday night.

Louisiana statute allows the Office of Motor Vehicles to request a $1 to $3 fee from any local government to cover building and maintenance costs. Rayburn said the fee was already in place in numerous parishes.

If the Jury approves the request, they will get a loan to build the building, Wagoner said. The money from the service fee will go to pay off the loan, buy equipment and maintain the building.

The Jury will own the building, but the DMV will not report to the Jury.

Currently the DMV building, located on U.S. 84, is about 1,300 square feet with office space for three employees.

&uot;That office does a lot of transactions,&uot; Rayburn said. &uot;It’s a very, very busy office and we are going to try to get a bigger office that can provide a better facility.&uot;

Wagoner said the DMV had requested a 2,400 square foot building located away from the major highway.

The Jury will decide where the building is located.

&uot;They want to get off the main highway,&uot; Wagoner said. &uot;It’s dangerous getting in and out, especially with people learning how to drive.&uot;

Wagoner said if the request is approved the fee would probably go into effect by May and the loan process for the building could begin with the bank.

A similar setup is already in place with the Concordia Parish Health Unit, which is maintained by a parish-wide ad valorem tax.