BELLEFONTE — The Centre County Board of Commissioners approved a series of measures Tuesday supporting the county’s transportation services, including the largest in-kind vehicle purchase in the county’s history.

Commissioners approved the acquisition of 13 vehicles from Penn State and the allocation of more than $1.3 million for the Medical Assistance Transportation Program (MATP), which provides medical-related transportation services to qualified residents using Medicare and Medicaid subsidies.

The $160,930 vehicle purchase, which includes a 10 percent surcharge, is being covered with in-kind funds, meaning the vehicles are paid for through county services rather than cash.

“We’ve never bought that many in one shot,” Dave Lomison, Centre County director of transportation said. “We’re excited, and the departments are all looking forward to upgrading and getting newer stuff.”

The vehicles, mostly 2018 and 2019 Ford Explorers, cost between $7,800 and $12,600 each and will be distributed across the county’s various departments. In addition to the 13 Explorers, the county will receive two 2018 Ford Fusions and a 2019 Chevrolet Malibu.

“We have departments for them once we get them,” Lomison said. “We’ll replace old and worn-out (vehicles) and some that are already out of service.”

The retired vehicles will be sold at auction.

Lomison also presented two items related to MATP.

Although the county is not required to operate transportation services, commissioners have chosen to continue to support the well-used program.

Centre County’s MATP receives an annual allocation from the state to fund its service. If the program exceeds that allocation, as it did last year, the county can still be reimbursed for the overages.

One agenda item addressed financial details to allow the county to be reimbursed $75,167 for services provided during the 2024-2025 fiscal year. Processing of that reimbursement is underway following the board’s approval.

The second item amended the 2025-2026 budget to include psychiatric rehabilitation transportation services. According to Lomison, this is the first time in nearly 15 years the state has directly funded these services, which were previously covered by the agencies providing them.

“It was a long time that they did that, but then they stopped for many years,” he said.

The total amended allocation now exceeds $1.3 million, up from the $1,177,378 approved by commissioners last fall.