Lycoming County commissioners on Jan. 15 approved 2026 grant monitoring agreements and authorized funding allocations to outside agencies after several hearings and follow-up discussion about tightened drawdown requirements.

The commissioners voted to fund a set of agencies under the 2026 budget, including the Lycoming County Library System ($1,000,000), Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority ($176,425), Lycoming County Senior Citizens ($10,000), Law Enforcement Association of Lycoming County ($15,000), Camp Cadet Foundation Inc. ($3,000), American Rescue Workers ($5,000), Community Alliance for Progressive Positive Action (CAPA) ($10,000), Fire Tree Place ($25,000), Lycoming County Fire Police Association ($3,000) and West Branch Firemen’s Association ($10,000). Staff noted the approved package represents a $395,825 decrease from 2025 allocations.

Commissioners and staff highlighted the county’s budget constraint during the discussion. One commissioner said the county received roughly $4 million in requests that far exceeded available funds and described “a painstaking” review process to reduce the requests while trying to preserve key services. Commissioners asked staff to pursue other grant sources and to limit duplicative services among charities.

County staff described a tighter drawdown process that will require subrecipients to request funds as they need them rather than receiving large upfront disbursements. The change accompanies a standard grant monitoring agreement that will give commissioners more visibility into how recipients spend allocated funds.

The Williamsport Municipal Airport Authority funding was described as a required payment tied to airport operations; staff said the airport payments are part of federal and authority arrangements the county must process. For other agencies, staff emphasized that some stormwater review fees and other expenses are reimbursable by applicants or eligible for state or federal grant support.

The action followed routine motions to accept the accounts payable and various personnel items during the same meeting. The board also asked staff and county lobbyists to seek potential state or federal funding to supplement local allocations.

What happens next: the county will implement the grant monitoring agreements and the drawdown form for recipients to request funds. Commissioners said they will continue discussions with agencies about alternative fundraising and grant options.