Lycoming County commissioners approved accounts payable totaling $2,753,340.01 to be paid on Sept. 3, 2025, and moved forward on several budgeted contracts and personnel actions while discussing persistent budget pressures and the effect of the state budget impasse.

The accounts-payable report presented listed $2,753,340.01 in invoices due through Sept. 10, 2025, and to be paid on Sept. 3, 2025. The presenter said 87.26% of the amount would be paid from the general fund, 9.56% from ARPA funds and 3.18% from ARRA funds. Commissioners voted to approve payment.

The board also ratified several routine, budgeted items and contract renewals: an $11,000 contract with M and M Asphalt for a farmhouse driveway; a contract with MES Service Company LLC for an inspection service item (amount listed as $135 in the record); a $75,000 engineering services contract with AECOM for preliminary work on a levy; a $2,880 renewal with Stenograph for court recording equipment support; purchase of 12 courthouse cameras from Bicon for $7,041.60; a $747.47 support renewal for a PCD scanner with e plus; and an amendment extending legal services with McCormick Law Firm through 2027 for the Planning Department and Planning Commission. Several personnel actions were approved as conditional offers of employment, subject to background checks, including hires for the prison and soil conservation office.

Commissioners used the meeting to describe county fiscal constraints. One commissioner said the board continues “to look for cuts” and noted the county has not raised taxes since February 2015. He described a recent reduction in an earlier projected deficit — from about $12 million to $4 million after departmental cuts — but said new timing issues and the state budget impasse have produced renewed pressure on cash flows. “Now it's September 1, and we're strapped with the same issue we had last year on October 1,” the commissioner said. Commissioners said the county has reduced capital projects, drawn on fund balance for past capital work and has delayed issuing bonds this year.

Officials also said they have explored short-term borrowing options and warned that lines of credit carry interest costs that are ultimately borne by taxpayers. Commissioners directed departments to continue reviewing expenditures and said fiscal staff are meeting regularly with departments to identify issues earlier in the year.

The meeting concluded with no new tax or bond approvals; commissioners said they will continue work on a balanced budget and will meet again on Sept. 11, 2025.