The state has asked Mercer County Regional Council of Governments for more information before deciding on a grant request to start a joint construction code enforcement office.

Executive Director James DeCapua said the state is particularly interested in financial data on how the office will be funded.

The goal is to have the office support itself with fees after the first-year infusion of state cash. DeCapua has asked the 18 interested municipalities to submit information on the number of building permits issued each year and the amount of money the permits raise, but municipal officials said that information will not give a proper picture of the office's finances.

Many communities that do not enforce a building code must now do so because of a recently passed state law.

Jefferson Township Supervisor Richard Brandes said his town essentially performs a zoning inspection only when it issues a building permit. Under the new law, it will have to inspect parts of the construction project.

The fee Jefferson collects only covers the zoning inspection, and fees will have to be increased to cover the extra inspections.

"We've always been lenient to the builder because we want to encourage it," said Wheatland Mayor Tom Stanton. "Now, you're talking about enforcing a code."

Fees differ from town to town. If the office is approved, the member municipalities will need to set a uniform fee structure.