Lock Haven’s City Council on Dec. 8 approved the calendar and fiscal year 2026 budget, signed off on a second-reading ordinance consolidating real estate millage into a single rate, and adopted the city’s annual fee schedule.

Staff presented the budget on second reading and said major funds total $15,147,587. “The general fund will be $6,466,359,” an unnamed city staff member said, and the presentation listed the fire fund at $549,476, the water fund at $3,076,011, the sewer fund at $4,214,723, the airport fund at $235,972 and the stormwater fund at $276,414. Council members moved and seconded the budget for adoption; roll call showed one recorded no vote. The ordinance adopting the 2026 budget passed.

The council also took the second reading and approved Ordinance 2025-12 to enact the real estate millage for fiscal year 2026. Council discussion included a technical clarification that the ordinance consolidates land and improvement assessments into a single millage rate. “It’s important to point out that there is no tax increase this year, but some people might see a difference in what their taxes [are] because of this process of merging land and improvement taxes together in 1 millage,” the presiding officer said on the record. The ordinance was approved on second reading by roll-call vote.

Council adopted Resolution 2025-44, the city’s annual schedule of charges and fees, with staff noting no significant fee increases; adjustments were made to align water charges with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) tariff and to increase certain building permit/code enforcement fees to match state charges.

Council received the finalized 2023 fiscal-year audit prepared by Victor Tilly and filed with the state Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED). Staff said a condensed, user-friendly version is available on the DCED website and the complete single-audit and financial statements are online for public review.

Procedural items on the agenda included approval of the Dec. 1 minutes and notice of recent election receipts submitted by Maria Boylou, Clinton County voter registration and elections director. The council also noted a letter from the Central County Water Filtration Authority; the water subcommittee plans to discuss the filtration report with the Suburban Water Authority in the new year.

Council members announced that the organizational meeting and the first regular meeting of the new council will be Jan. 5, 2026. The next regular meeting was set for Dec. 15 at the Sons of Italy patio, 1 North Henderson Street, with public entrance via the railroad-side gate.