Clearfield County adopts 2026 budget and enacts 2.5‑mill real estate tax increase

Clearfield County Commissioners adopted the 2026 county budget and approved a 2.5‑mill increase in the county real estate tax rate at their Dec. 23, 2025 meeting.

The chair read Resolution 2025‑11, which adopts the county budget for Jan. 1–Dec. 31, 2026 and establishes the real estate tax rate described during the reading as an increase of 2.5 mills. County finance staff and Commissioner Glass summarized changes from the initial draft as largely pass‑through items: an additional $50,000 in payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑taxes (PILT) was added for certain forest land, map‑sales revenue was increased by $3,000, and postage budgets were trimmed. Staff also identified an omitted vehicle lease expense; after correcting that oversight, the required transfer from reserve decreased by $47,500.

A commissioner acknowledged strong reluctance to raise taxes but said he would vote for the resolution because the board had conducted a serious review and planned future initiatives to control costs. The chair said county code in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania requires presentation of a balanced budget and defended the board’s approach, saying the county runs a lean operation and sought to preserve services.

The motion to adopt Resolution 2025‑11 was moved, seconded and approved by voice vote.

Why it matters: The budget sets county spending priorities and establishes the real estate tax rate that will affect homeowners and property owners across Clearfield County. The discussed line‑item changes are relatively small compared with the full budget, but the millage change directly increases property tax bills in the county.

Next steps: The county will finalize budget documents and implement the adopted tax rate for 2026.