PFM presents deficit-closing options as Williamsport faces multi‑million shortfall

Williamsport — Gordon Mann of Public Financial Management (PFM) returned to City Council on Sept. 18 to present a list of options the city could use to close a projected multi‑million dollar budget shortfall in 2026. Mann summarized a multiyear financial plan his team is preparing under a grant from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.

Mann told the council the current 2025 budget is balanced only because it relies on one‑time reserves and emergency funds; removing those one‑time items produces “about a 4 and a half million dollar deficit.” He said the projection for 2026 is “about a $5,000,000 deficit.” Mann urged the council to favor recurring solutions when possible so actions taken for 2026 also reduce shortfalls in 2027 and 2028.

The consultant presented a menu of major options (defined as actions estimated to be worth at least $100,000): increasing the real estate tax; pursuing home rule to gain earned‑income tax flexibility; using available reserves in the short term; pursuing regionalization of services…