Mifflin County commissioners adopt 2025 budget, fix millage and approve series of grants and contracts

The Mifflin County Board of Commissioners adopted the county's 2025 budget and fixed tax rates without increasing millage, and approved a series of grants, service agreements and personnel actions during a public meeting.

The board adopted Resolution 52 20 24, which sets the county's 2025 tax rates and appropriates sums for county government; the commissioners also approved the county's 2025 budget and a slate of contracts, grants and appointments. Chair (name not specified) said the county has not raised millage for the last eight years.

Why it matters: The adopted budget and fixed millage determine county revenue and spending priorities for 2025 and fund programs ranging from housing rehabilitation to public-safety services. Several agreements approved at the meeting create or fund near-term county activity, including housing repairs for income-eligible households and trail signage tied to a state grant.

The most consequential vote was the formal adoption of the 2025 budget and the accompanying resolution to fix millage. The board voted to adopt the budget after discussion; the meeting record shows the motion carried by voice vote. Commissioners emphasized that the budget accounts for a notable increase in total dollars because the county is administering a larger number of grants, which raises both revenues and expenditures on paper.

On taxes and budget Chair (name not specified) said the board had 'not increased millage for the last 8 years.' The board adopted Resolution 52 20 24, which the transcript identifies as the annual resolution that fixes 2025 tax rates for general county purposes at the same millage as the prior year and appropriates funds for county operations. The board then adopted the 2025 budget; the record shows the motions carried by voice vote.

Housing and community grants and contracts - The board approved a services agreement with CECOG for the county's Whole Home program to handle income certifications, contractor administration and other delivery tasks for income-eligible household repairs. The program sets a maximum assistance of $24,500 per household and the board's remarks said the program is expected to address about 11 homes. The transcript reports an estimated services cost of about $49,280 and an allocated administrative amount of $45,483; the county will use its Act 137 affordable housing trust to cover costs above the allowable administrative amount. The transcript lists a project completion deadline of December 30, 2026.

- The board approved a separate services agreement for the single-family owner-occupied housing rehabilitation portion of the HOME grant in the amount of $350,000. The board approved a contract for a consultant (Mitchell, first name not specified in the record) to provide bid preparation, bid awarding and inspection services at a rate of $90 per hour; the contract scope does not include performing construction work. The board discussed a waiting list of roughly 30 households for housing rehabilitation services.

- The board approved a $11,478 F13 grant award to the Ross Rock Playground Authority for ballfield/dugout improvements; the planning director, Jim Latier, told the board the playground authority must cover costs above the grant and that the project had not started yet.

Contracts, services and operational items - The board approved a purchase-of-service agreement for prison-board legal services with Mark Remy (law offices) for the period beginning in January and ending 12/31/2025. The rate reported in the meeting record was $1.25 per hour as stated on the transcript; no further clarification of that rate was provided in the meeting record.

- The commissioners approved cleaning service agreements with New Visions covering multiple county buildings (annex, certain offices, historic courthouse and county library).

- The board approved a statewide automated victim notification system maintenance and service agreement with the Pennsylvania DAs Institute (PDAI). Warden Carmonic described the system as integrating with the jail management system to automatically notify registered victims on release, transfer or escape; he said the service is provided at no cost to the county.

- The board approved a purchase-of-service agreement with Adelphi Village (Latrobe) to provide residential behavioral-health treatment for dependent and delinquent youth; the quoted daily rates in the meeting were $111 to $1,132.46 depending on level of care.

- The board approved a letter of agreement adding $522 to Michael Baker International's contract for an expanded mailing tied to the county's community survey, bringing that contract total to $138,002.80 as reported. The board noted the county received a grant that will offset 50% of the comprehensive-plan cost.

Infrastructure and finance - The board agreed to encumber $100,000 of county liquid fuels funds to begin maintenance financing for the Chestnut Street Bridge; the record says this encumbrance is not the total project cost but an initial action to begin planning/financing.

- The board approved Act 13 funds to pay for required signage on the second phase of the Juniata River Trail, reporting a total sign cost of $292.50; Lewistown Borough will provide posts and installation.

Other votes, appointments and personnel - The board accepted a grant award totaling $59,870 for the period Oct. 1 to Sept. 30, 2025 (award acceptance motion carried).

- The commissioners reappointed Alanna Hartung and Kevin Vodish to the Seed of God Board of Directors and Seed of God Global Development Corporation for one-year terms.

- The board ratified a collective-bargaining agreement with the county courthouse employees' union covering 01/01/2025 through 12/31/2027.

- The board approved a training agreement with Huntington County Career and Technology Center to place a cooperative-education student in the 9-1-1 department.

- Personnel actions approved included the resignation of Richard Kelly (part-time corrections officer), resignation of Joanne Baker (position/effective date as reported), and the hiring of John Greenleaf as a probation officer effective in January.

Votes at a glance (items recorded in meeting minutes) - Adopt 2025 budget: approved (voice vote). - Resolution 52 20 24 (fix 2025 tax rates): approved (voice vote). - CECOG Whole Home services agreement: approved (voice vote). - HOME single-family services agreement / consultant at $90/hr: approved (voice vote). - F13 grant to Ross Rock Playground Authority ($11,478): approved (voice vote). - Encumber $100,000 for Chestnut Street Bridge maintenance: approved (voice vote). - Michael Baker International contract add-on ($522): approved (voice vote). - Cleaning contracts with New Visions: approved (voice vote). - Prison-board solicitor agreement with Mark Remy: approved (voice vote). - PDAI victim notification agreement (no cost): approved (voice vote). - Purchase-of-service with Adelphi Village (rates reported $111'$1,132.46/day): approved (voice vote). - Act 13 signage for Juniata River Trail ($292.50): approved (voice vote). - Grant acceptance ($59,870) for Oct.1'Sept.30, 2025: approved (voice vote). - Reappointments (Alanna Hartung, Kevin Vodish): approved (voice vote). - Ratification of union agreement (01/01/2025'12/31/2027): approved (voice vote). - Training agreement with Huntington County Career & Tech Center: approved (voice vote). - Personnel actions (resignations and hiring John Greenleaf): approved (voice vote).

What the record shows and limits The transcript records voice votes and routine motions; roll-call tallies were not provided for the items listed above. Several figures and names in the meeting transcript were reported without additional supporting documentation in the record (for example, the $1.25 hourly rate reported for the prison-board solicitor and some slightly different totals for CDBG checks). Where the transcript supplies a number or deadline, this article reports that figure and notes when the record supplies no further clarification. Warden Carmonic described the victim-notification system as integrated with the jail system and ''providing notification to registered persons regarding the escape, release from custody, or transfer from one facility to another of persons held in custody,'' per the meeting record.

The board set a near-term project deadline for the CECOG Whole Home work and noted the county must show significant progress to its grantor by the next reporting period. County staff said waiting lists exist for both the Whole Home and HOME programs and that applicants will be drawn from those lists as projects proceed.