Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the County Budget Roundtable topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
County fiscal roundtable: departments report mixed funding outlooks and statewide uncertainties
Summary
Cumberland County department leaders reviewed tentative allocations and state proposals, reporting some increases in children-and-youth and community services funding, persistent shortfalls in mental‑health and IDD programs, and ongoing uncertainty over state and federal payments.
County department directors briefed commissioners Tuesday on fiscal year 2025–26 budget expectations, citing recent tentative allocations from the state, one‑time federal and settlement funds and continued uncertainty over several revenue streams.
Christine Bowden, speaking for aging services, said the governor’s proposed statewide increase of $20 million for aging services is not final and that the county is still waiting for a new three‑year cooperative agreement with the state, which must be signed by all 52 Area Agencies on Aging before payments flow. “We are still waiting for that,” Bowden said; she added that the state is considering quarterly rather than monthly payments for the cooperative agreement.
Kim Winton, on community services, said the county received an $81,385 increase this year for the homeless assistance program and said the governor proposed a $4 million increase for the State Food Purchase Program. Winton also noted risks tied to Central Pennsylvania Food Bank cutbacks, which could affect pantry purchasing under state programs.
Children and Youth speakers (identified in the meeting as Nikki and Lisa) said their tentative certified allocations were higher this year, reporting $32.3 million in certified allocations — roughly $3.0 million more than last year, a 10.6% increase — and said a new evidence‑based truancy diversion program was funded at a small level.
Criminal justice officials reported no budget increases but said they are reorganizing specialty courts at no additional cost. Brenda (drug and alcohol services) said state contracts are in five‑year cycles and the next agreement will end June 30; the timing of a successor agreement remains uncertain. She noted opioid settlement funds were used to support two prevention positions and other efforts to offset flat state funding.
Mark, speaking for IDD and early intervention, said the Office of Developmental Programs is shifting to an allocation model in which the county will receive an allocation and may request additional waiver capacity quarterly; he said counties must improve utilization to free capacity for new requests. He said fiscal increases for IDD were minimal this year and early intervention funding changes may take time to arrive.
Annie (mental health) said the department faces structural deficits and has used HealthChoices reinvestment dollars in prior years to balance budgets; the department is planning approximately $1.2 million in cuts next year and expects a roughly $550,000 shortfall absent additional state or federal commitments. She noted the county is hopeful the region’s new walk‑in crisis center is having an early positive effect: center staff reported more than 1,100 people seen from opening in December through March 31.
County commissioners thanked staff for the high‑level briefing and noted that state budget timing and federal uncertainties make planning difficult; finance staff said the tentative county budget will post for public view May 7 and be scheduled for approval June 4.
