Clearfield County commissioners on Jan. 5, 2026 approved an ownership agreement with the Central County Youth Center that changes how the five-county consortium will be funded. The agreement sets a county contribution of $68,354 plus a per-diem rate of $667 per day to be applied when youth are held at the facility.

The change responds to a state reimbursement policy, officials said. Speaker 1 said the state “would no longer reimburse through children and youth services based on allocation, that it had to be on actual days used.” Speaker 2 summarized the new county terms: “That amount is $68,354 and then there will be a per diem rate of $667 per day that will be applied.”

Under existing practice, counties previously allocated funds based on budgeted usage; the board was told the new structure is intended as a learning-period arrangement to ensure costs are managed and to allow reevaluation of the per-diem approach. Speaker 2 said the first invoice had already arrived and “will be taken care of.”

A motion to approve the ownership agreement was made and seconded and passed by voice vote. The board approved the change during its reorganizational meeting and excused the solicitor, who had another commitment.

The agreement covers Clearfield County’s share as a member of the five-county consortium (Center, Clinton, Mifflin, Huntington and Clearfield counties). The board’s motion did not specify longer-term budgetary allocations beyond the initial contribution and the per-diem approach; officials noted the arrangement will be reevaluated after the first quarter of implementation.