LOCK HAVEN — Before diving into more detail regarding Clinton County’s 2026 budget, Ed Zack, of Susquehanna Accounting Services, said the preliminary budget did not include a tax increase.

Zack said the budget for next year is $48,461,788, noting it is about $1.7 million less than 2025.

“That’s (because) we did most of our capital projects in 2024 and 2025,” he said.

On the other hand, he noted Children and Youth Services saw an increase of about $1.3 million due to group home expenses.

Overall, the General Fund makes up 28 percent of the budget; Children and Youth Services makes up 14.7 percent; the Clinton County Correctional Facility — which makes up about 7.9 percent of the General Fund Budget — is about 16 percent of the overall budget; and about 44 percent of the budget is for wages and benefits.

Zack said there was a slight increase in wages of about 2.3 percent. Accounting for overtime and on call hours, the total increase was 3.8 percent.

On the benefits side, he said there was an increase of 5.31 percent.

Revenue, which he said is mostly generated through taxes, is about 30 percent of the budget, with grants making up 21 percent.

Tax assessed values for 2026 will only see one-half of a percentage increase, he noted.

His final comment regarded energy.

“I’m sure everyone in the county realizes this, our utility budget went up 21 percent because of electric bills,” he said.

Chief Clerk Desiree Myers said the budget will be available for public review at www.clintoncounypa.gov from now until Dec. 18, at which time — and if no changes are made — the board will consider adopting the budget at its voting session that morning.