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BELLEFONTE -- The Centre County Board of Commissioners considered additional funding for several local human services programs Tuesday, including basic needs assistance, an information and referral hotline and housing services.
The commissioners considered contract increases for Centre Helps' Basic Needs Case Management Program and 24-hour Information & Referral Hotline, as well as Housing Transitions Inc.'s Coordinated Entry Walk-In Center.
The proposed increase for Centre Helps' Basic Needs Case Management Program would bring the contract from $23,290 to $28,335.52, an increase of $5,045.52 in state funding.
The board also considered increasing Centre Helps' contract for its 24-hour Information & Referral Hotline from $70,000 to $137,561. The increase would provide an additional $67,561 in state funding.
"We are very dependent as a department on a basic needs case management program as is the community because they're able to do a lot of case management work with our private funders, our congressional and things like that that we typically don't do from our government department," a spokesperson from Centre Help said.
The board also considered a $2,045.66 increase to the contract with Housing Transitions Inc. for its Coordinated Entry Walk-In Center. The increase would bring the contract total to $63,104.66, with the funding provided by the state.
The three Adult Services contract items are scheduled to be added to the following week's consent agenda.
Commissioners also considered several matters involving Pennsylvania's Opioid Misuse and Addiction Abatement Trust Settlement.
One item involved certification for Centre County's 2026 distribution from the state opioid settlement accounts. The settlement total is $275,824.69 for the period of Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2027.
The board also considered a draft expenditure report and proposed changes to the county's spending plan for opioid settlement funds covering Jan. 1 through June 30, 2026. According to the county agenda, funds received through Dec. 31, 2025, totaled $1,509,729.64.
"We appreciate the support from the state and federal government, both the legislators and all the other government officials for their assistance," Chair Mark Higgins said.
The commissioners also adopted a proclamation declaring Sept. 15 through Oct. 15 as Hispanic Heritage Month in Centre County.
"Hispanic men and women have made valuable contributions to all areas of life in Centre County, including but not limited to government, business, education, agriculture, science, law enforcement, the military and building and supporting a vibrant and resilient economy in Centre County," Chair Mark Higgins said.
Other business included approving Resolution 11 of 2026, which authorizes the submission of an application to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development for the fiscal year 2026 Community Development Block Grant Program.
The board also approved office renovations for the new Tax Claim & Collections location at the Willowbank Building, with a cost not to exceed $30,000, and masonry repairs for the Willowbank Building Envelope Project, with a cost not to exceed $63,000.
The next Centre County Board of Commissioners meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 10 a.m. at the Willowbank Office Building.