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BELLEFONTE -- The Centre County Board of Commissioners considered a series of contracts, funding requests and other county business Tuesday, including tax-exempt financing for a Mount Nittany Medical Center project, Human Services funding and a request from College Township to modify an existing Liquid Fuels Program award.
During Tuesday's meeting, commissioners adopted Resolution 14 of 2026, which concerns tax-exempt financing through the Centre County Hospital Authority for a project involving Mount Nittany Medical Center.
"I've almost believed that more healthcare is better, and I think it's great," Commissioner Steven Dershem said. "I've seen the growth that Mount Nittany has experienced over my lifetime."
Commissioners also considered several Human Services matters. The board considered the final report for the State Food Purchase Program for the fourth quarter of the 2025-26 fiscal year. The report totaled $195,955, all funded by the state, for the period from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026.
The board also considered an agreement with the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture to extend The Emergency Food Assistance Program by one year. The program totals $60,000 in federal funding and would be extended through Sept. 30, 2027.
"We definitely appreciate the temporary bump in the state food purchase program," Chair Mark Higgins said. "I know that the food banks could really use it because there have been cuts in other areas and a lot of flat funding."
Commissioners considered the county's fiscal-year 2025-26 Human Services Block Grant income and expenditure report. The report totaled $7,197,853, including $6,567,101 in state funding, $328,053 in federal funding and $302,699 in county matching funds.
Other Human Services matters included contracts and renewals for mental health, intellectual disability, early intervention and drug and alcohol services. The contracts included agreements with George Junior Republic in Pennsylvania, Eagle Ridge Personal Care Home, Oasis Lifecare, Peerstar, Center for Community Resources and EBN.
The commissioners also approved College Township's request to change the scope of an $11,000 Liquid Fuels Program award. The revised project would include new signage and button-actuated pedestrian crossing warning lights at three crosswalk locations on Brandywine Drive.
The board also considered its consent agenda, which included a $3,589 contract with Berkshire Systems Group for installation of a new cellular dialer for fire alarm monitoring at the Courthouse and a $160,000 contract renewal with People R' Us Community Residential Services for foster care and residential services for dependent and delinquent youth.
The consent agenda also included several mental health and intellectual disability service contracts, including renewals with Eagle Valley Residential Service for $796,252, Eagle View Personal Care Home for $748,938, Service, Access and Management for $202,456, Skills Inc. for $158,000, Community Services Group for $59,000 and Crossroad Counseling for $39,500.
An additional $1,500 for EBN was approved to increase the provider's maximum allocation for early intervention services from $46,000 to $47,500.
Commissioners also considered a request for CNET to sponsor the taping of the Senior Fair/Scam Seminar, scheduled for Oct. 14 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. at Centre Care.
The board also considered the Sept. 25 check run and received the administrator's report, voter registration report and other announcements.
The next Centre County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for 10 a.m. Oct. 6 at the Willowbank Office Building. Budget work sessions are also scheduled for Oct. 6, 7 and 8.