The possibility of a fee hike to gain extra income to Butler has cost Main Street one of the four annual events that would have been affected.

The Rodfathers of Butler is moving Cruise-A-Palooza — a two decade tradition — to the Butler Farm Show grounds in Connoquenessing Township in 2015.

And representatives of another event, Butler Fall Fest, will consider the possibility of moving out of the city.

The problem, organizers say, is a proposal by the city to increase the amount organizations reimburse the city for police and maintenance costs from 25 percent to 50 percent.

City council talked about it this summer, but never voted on it.

The proposed ordinance was tabled at the July 24 council meeting, and “it never came back,” said city clerk Mindy Gall.

Mayor Tom Donaldson said, “We had a discussion about it because we had to. To date this year, for example, city police have incurred about $12,000 in overtime fees for events. We were reimbursed $3,000. That means the residents of the city chipped in $9,000 in police costs alone. We can’t afford that ... However, if (Cruise-A-Palooza) is moving because of the fees, that’s regrettable. We did not raise them.”

John Malinski, president of the Rodfathers Association, said, “They never got back to us after that (July) meeting. We have heard nothing.”

Malinski and Dan Cunningham, the group’s publicity director, said now is the time that commitments must be made with vendors, entertainment, crafters and others to get ready for the 2015 cruise.

“It’s just too much of a hassle,” Malinski said of the Main Street location. “The fees are the big problem, but there’s other issues over the years and the fees just pushed us over.”

The city said last year the overtime costs of those four events ranged from $1,300 to $6,100, with organizers paying $330 to $1,500. Overtime for Cruise-A-Palooza in 2014 was $4,728. The group paid $1,182.

“It doesn’t sound like much, but everything we have is donations,” said Malinski, who noted that proceeds are donated to eight charities.

Malinski said when considering all factors, including insurance, it will cost the group about half as much to hold Cruise-A-Palooza at the Farm Show Grounds.

The group’s board and membership on Oct. 21 voted to move Cruise-A-Palooza to the Farm Show Grounds on June 21.

Three other events are subject to the fees: the Jeep Invasion during the annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival, the Butler Road Race and the Butler Fall Festival.

Sheri Hershberger, the president of the Butler Fall Festival, said her group is concerned about the possible fees.

“We are going to make a final evaluation of our location on Nov. 7,” said Hershberger.

Mike Franko, president of the Butler Road Race, said that event will remain in the city.

Questions about the Jeepfest were referred to Jack Cohen, the president of the Butler County Tourism and Convention Bureau. He could not be reached.