Beaver County staff outline recommended 2026 budget, PILT transfers and capital projects
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Summary
Finance staff presented a draft 2026 recommended budget of roughly $20,000,002, outlined using PILT and other one‑time sources to fill gaps in roads and capital projects, and flagged pending grant awards and revenue uncertainties.
County finance staff presented a detailed recommended 2026 budget and capital plan, reporting a working budget total of approximately $20,000,001.93. Staff said earlier in the morning they had identified about $400,000 in surplus before finalizing employee benefits selections and that, after factoring benefits and conservative modeling, they proposed targeted transfers and uses of one‑time funds.
Key items discussed:
- Roads and equipment: finance proposed shifting $435,000 of PILT (Payment in Lieu of Taxes) to the road department to cover purchases (trailers and other heavy equipment) and to address a shortfall in the road budget. Staff said road purchases could be adjusted depending on contractor bids and final revenues. - Capital grants: staff listed an infrastructure grant ($500,000) and a planning grant ($42,500) earmarked for projects starting in 2026. They also noted a $2,000,000 application for a separate project that resulted in a partial award of $500,000 (Puffer grant reference). - Tourism/RTT and special events: Economic development staff proposed modest line items—an Otter.ai subscription ($203.88/year), LinkedIn Premium ($575.88/year), and a $5,000 consulting contingency—to support recruitment and event planning. Staff discussed using TRT funds for events and training (for example, snow‑cat training tied to winter tourism/search and rescue capabilities). - Contingencies and assumptions: many revenue lines (November/December receipts, rural community opportunity grant awards) remain pending, which staff said could change the surplus position before adoption. The presentation included options to move restaurant/RTT transfers between funds if needed.
Commissioners asked clarifying questions about restricted fund uses, timing of grant awards, and the potential impacts if expected revenues fall short. Staff agreed to refine figures and to bring finalized budget documents ahead of the formal adoption timeline.
