The Lawrence County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 30 adopted a balanced fiscal-year 2026 budget and left the county's property tax rate unchanged, the board announced during a regularly scheduled meeting at the county courthouse.

The budget was placed on public display Dec. 9 and met statutory requirements for a balanced budget. "There's no proposed tax increase," a county staff member said during the meeting, noting the budget had been on public display for 21 days and no public comments had been received. Commissioners voted by roll call to adopt Resolution 416, which the chair said satisfies the county's legal deadlines for adopting a budget.

Why it matters: Keeping the property tax rate steady can limit immediate tax pressure on local property owners while preserving county services. The board also approved Resolution 417 to set the county millage for 2026 at 8.309 mills, broken down as 7.528 mills for the general fund, 0.646 mills for debt service and 0.135 mills to support the three county libraries (Newcastle Library, Elwood City Library and F.D. Campbell Memorial Library).

The meeting also included a package of routine but consequential actions: the board approved several court-appointed counsel reappointments and appointments submitted by the courts (Resolutions 412 15), renewed contracts for three independent contractors who assist county offices (Resolutions 419 421), and reappointed a commissioner to a regional planning board (Resolution 422).

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 416 (2026 budget adoption): Approved by roll call; board described budget as balanced with no proposed tax increase.
- Resolution 417 (2026 county property tax rate): Approved by roll call; total county millage set at 8.309 (7.528 general fund; 0.646 debt; 0.135 libraries).
- Resolutions 412 and 413 (court appointments): Approved; included reappointment of attorney Susan Pape as court-appointed truancy officer (Res. 412) and appointment of attorney Deborah Shaw as custody conciliation officer (Res. 413), each for one year at existing hourly rates.
- Resolution 414 (juvenile court-appointed counsel): Approved; four attorneys reappointed for juvenile conflict representation for one-year contracts.
- Resolution 415 (criminal court-appointed counsel): Approved; five attorneys reappointed for criminal case representation (excluding murder cases) at the same compensation structure.
- Resolution 418 (employee health-insurance premium contribution cap): Approved; maximum employee contribution for nonunion management and county-compensated elected officials set at 5% of the insurance policy premium for 2026 (not of income).
- Resolutions 419 421 (independent contractors): Approved; included renewal of contracts for Artisha Foster (tax claim services, $40/hr, not to exceed $12,000), Charles "JR" Hardister (assessment assistance, $40/hr, not to exceed $12,000) and Frank McCary (maintenance contractor, $38,110 annual rate).
- Resolution 422 (regional planning representative): Approved; Commissioner Sonata reappointed as Lawrence County's representative to the Northwest Regional Planning Commission through Dec. 31, 2027.

A notable budget transfer

The board also approved Resolution 423, a transfer of $265,000 from the county's capital project contingency into the jail's major equipment line to address a long-standing elevator issue at the county jail. County staff said the repair contract requires a 50% payment when work begins and the balance upon completion and inspection. The chair said work on the elevator has begun and the transfer will fund the initial draw.

Other fiscal moves

Resolution 424 authorized multiple transfers from the county's HRA/benefit line totaling $190,179 and additional transfers including a $211,513 transfer into PCORP liability insurance; the board approved the account moves and a set of smaller departmental transfers during the same session.

Written notices and permits

The board entered several written communications into the record, including a Pennsylvania Department of Transportation notice about a culvert replacement on State Route 4005 in Pulaski Township (expected 3 64 months of construction in 2027) and Act 14/DEP notices from local businesses seeking state permits or plan approvals (including a natural minor operating permit application and an application for a supplemental cartridge dust collection system at a Newcastle facility). The board chair noted a clerical address correction for one filing (Gardner Avenue rather than Gardner Road).

What happens next

The commissioners scheduled their next regular meeting for Tuesday, Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. and the required annual salary board meeting for Monday, Jan. 5 at 2 p.m., both open to the public. The board adjourned after a final public comment period produced no speakers.

(Direct quotes in this article are taken from statements recorded in the meeting transcript.)