LOCK HAVEN — Lock Haven City Council continued looking at its proposed 2026 budget at this week’s meeting, hearing from more department leads about progress made during the past year.

AIRPORT

Councilmember Steve Stevenson opened the floor with talk about the airport as part of the budget proposal for the new year.

“The airport has approximately 2,000 landings and takeoffs a year,” said Stevenson.

As he continued, the expenses for the airport were shared, noting “17 percent of the airport’s expenses are spent on wages, 6 percent on benefits, and 60 percent of the airport’s overall expenses are actually to pay for debt services for improvements that have taken place at the airport,” reported Stevenson.

This year, $142,000 was received through a grant to go towards the airport’s self fueling location with an additional $200,000 going towards rehabilitation for the access road and visitor parking area.

The airport is also receiving a grant to put in a secure fence around the property.

Airport Manager Doug Wenker said the proposed budget does not include a fuel purchase. He explained the airport has enough fuel to carry from 2025 into 2026.

Wenker noted the airport would purchase additional fuel if needed.

Wenker shared the completion of the self fueling station has not been determined at this point but is expected soon.

COMMUNITY AND

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Major projects are being spearheaded through the city’s ongoing comprehensive plan, with many being implemented through grant funding.

Stevenson spoke about the statistics surrounding Lock Haven family demographics.

“The median household income can now afford the median rent, the median household income is up 71 percent from a decade ago and the median home value has increased by 39 percent over the same decade,” said Stevenson. “This is really great for the city.”

Community Life

Kasey Dumm, director of community life, gave an update on her department’s work in 2025, noting the Summer Concert Series had 15 performances this year in Triangle Park and on the floating stage.

“It may not be an increase in concerts from last year but, in my opinion, we had the best attendance this year since the pandemic,” said Dumm.

On top of planning events throughout the city, Dumm, and others, worked with City Planner Abbey Roberts on Hoberman Park improvements this year, as well as Dripdown Productions to paint two murals in the city.

For the upcoming year, Dumm plans to continue to work with other community organizations for various requests and community events, including adding to the Little Ranger passport program, the monthly walks with council, monthly newsletters, social media campaigns and ranger videos for educational purposes.

Economic Development and Planning

During a review of the planning department, Roberts shared that they applied for just under $3 million in grant funding for community development and infrastructure in the city.

Roberts also mentions the adoption of their active transportation plan and continues to implement initiatives like the active arts corridor in Lock Haven to help improve the city.

Council will consider adopting the 2026 budget, with no tax increase, at its next meeting, Monday, Dec. 15, along with setting millage rates.

In other business city council:

— Approved a loan application for a commercial property at 307 Bellefonte Ave., Lock Haven submitted by High Harbor Holdings LLC, in the amount of $50,000.

— Approved the amendment of Ordinance No. 2025-10, amending Chapter 99 Article I, Police Pension Fund, and Article III, Death Benefits for Retired Police, to align with the agreement between the city and the Lock Haven Police Officers Association, effective Jan. 1, 2026.

— Approved Ordinance No.2025-11 to set the wages for nonunion employees for the 2026 fiscal year. Wage increases are effective for the following employees for 2026, 3.7% for regular employees and 4% increase for clerks.

— Gave notice to the public of the semiannual distribution of the city’s share of state police fines that were issued in city limits in the amount of $1,520.09.

— Gave notice of changes to Comcast cable packages for residents of Lock Haven.