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Pike County adopts resolution urging Pennsylvania leaders to finalize 2026 budget
Summary
The Pike County Board of Commissioners unanimously adopted Resolution No. 25-25 calling on the governor and legislature to pass a 2026 state budget without further delay, citing cash-flow risks to counties and potential service cuts for residents.
The Pike County Board of Commissioners voted to adopt Resolution No. 25-25 on Sept. 17, 2025, urging the governor and the Pennsylvania General Assembly to finalize the 2026 state budget before adjourning.
The resolution, read aloud during the meeting, says repeated Commonwealth budget delays have compelled counties to borrow to continue operations and left local taxpayers shouldering unreimbursed costs. “The governor and the legislature should not adjourn until a budget is in place, ensuring the fiscal stability of counties,” the reading of the resolution says.
County officials said the delays can force short-term borrowing that must be repaid by Dec. 31, constrain vendor payments and threaten county services. A county speaker highlighted that roughly one in six residents in the county receive SNAP benefits and said potential reductions in state funding could affect services such as elder transportation and child welfare caseload handling.
Commissioners noted the problem is statewide: the resolution frames the issue as one affecting all 67 counties in Pennsylvania and asks state leaders to prioritize completing the budget to avoid forcing counties into emergency borrowing or service reductions.
The board adopted the resolution by voice vote. Meeting remarks stressed both the fiscal and human-service impacts of continued delay and encouraged state leaders to act so county programs that rely on state reimbursement can continue without interruption.
The resolution text adopted by the board cites repeated missed budget deadlines over the past 25 years, the possibility of increased borrowing costs for counties, and the potential for increased property taxes or reduced services if state funds are not delivered on time. The board resolved to urge the governor and legislature to work collaboratively and to refrain from adjourning until a budget is enacted.
The board did not attach new county spending or borrowing authorizations to the resolution; it is a formal statement urging state action.
Commissioners said they would again raise the matter with state legislators and planned to include the topic in upcoming public outreach and task-force discussions.
