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LOCK HAVEN -- The Clinton County Board of Commissioners, along with roughly 30 other counties within the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are urging the Shapiro Administration and state lawmakers to pass its budget.
During its voting session Thursday morning, the board passed a resolution that addressed the consequences a continued lack of state budget could bring to the area.
Following a month-long recess, state lawmakers are returning to session this month without passing a budget -- which was expected to be approved in June.
Prior to reading the resolution, Commissioner Angela Harding noted that, as of Thursday morning, 28 other counties in the state had passed the same resolution.
The resolution notes that counties, school districts and municipalities within the state "consistently meet their financial deadlines each year."
It adds the Commonwealth has "missed 15 budget deadlines, causing significant disruption" since 2003 and "these delays have cost county taxpayers' real dollars, with counties often not being reimbursed for the financial impacts of budget delays."
Many counties, the resolution notes, have been forced to borrow money to continue operations due to these delays.
Harding added that Clinton County is not borrowing funds while it waits for the state to pass its budget.
"Severe delays in the past have threatened to increase property taxes for county residents, with the potential for this to occur again in 2026," the resolution states.
For Clinton County officials, meetings regarding next year's budget have begun so the board may be presented a proposed budget later this year.
"The Pennsylvania House and Senate have recessed as of July 1, leaving counties to guess the entire 12 months of the Commonwealth budget for 2026, which is an unjust burden," the resolution reads. "The current system is deemed irresponsible and detrimental to the welfare of county taxpayers."
The resolution, passed by the board, urges Gov. Josh Shapiro and the legislature to "not adjourn until a balanced budget is in place, ensuring the fiscal stability of counties and protecting county taxpayers from undue financial strain."
According to Chief Operating Officer/Chief Clerk Desiree Myers, the county currently has "several million dollars in reimbursements that are in limbo until we have a state budget in place."
This isn't entirely unusual during a budget impasse, she said, "but it does affect our cash flow since the county is still required to keep all of those services operational, so we have to dip into reserves and look for other ways to bridge the gap."
Myers told The Express the county receives a significant amount of reimbursements for a variety of services. The largest chunk, she said, involves human services that are mandated by the state.
"The biggest portions are human services programs like Children and Youth, Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities, drug and alcohol services, portions of our court system and probation," she said. "The state mandates all of those services, so when the legislature fails to pass a budget on time, the county effectively has to front the bill for a period of time."
With the process of beginning to prepare a 2026 budget, Myers said the county will create a preliminary budget with the understanding that a state budget will be passed.
"That has always happened in the past. But we also try to be cautious and plan for the delays," she said. "We examine where we can manage cash flow and where we can push back on certain expenditures, if necessary."
At this time, Myers said the county will prepare for either a passed budget front the state or not.
"It's not a matter of budgeting for one scenario or the other; it's about being ready for both realities," she said.
In other business, the board approved the following personnel items:
-- Confirmed the placement of Celia Woodruff as an unpaid externship within the Clinton County Courts, effective Sept. 3.
-- Accepted the retirement of Ernest Jackson, IT Director, effective Sept. 12. Jackson served in his capacity for 20 years, from Sept. 6, 2005 until Sept. 12, 2025.
-- Accepted a resignation from Alethia Haines, dispatcher trainee in the department of emergency services, effective Aug. 22.
-- Confirmed a lateral transfer of Shaelin Muth from family centered services case manager to intake caseworker in Children and Youth Services, effective Sept. 4.
-- Hired Jessica Quick as a part-time clerk/typist/microfilmer in the prothonotary's office, effective Sept. 8, at an hourly rate of $15.50, and not to exceed 1,000 hours annually.
-- Confirmed the ending of a temporary promotion of Tina Lesser from Magisterial Court Clerk III to Magisterial Court Clerk II at district court 25-2-01, effective Aug. 18 at a salary of $50,723.
-- Changed the job title for Desiree Myers from chief clerk to chief operating officer/chief clerk, responsible for the county's human resources administration, personnel policy, finance and budget oversight and organizational operations, effective Sept. 4.