Harrisburg council approves budget reallocation to fund three positions, adds $20,000 for council legal services

Harrisburg City Council voted unanimously (7–0) on Resolution 3 of 2026 to authorize a first 2026 budget reallocation and to roll forward certain 2025 encumbered commitments. The reallocation restores funding for three positions: the business administrator, a project manager/LERTA administrator, and a newly created director of community and economic development. The council approved an amendment to reallocate $20,000 from the general fund into council's legal-services line.

Solicitor Grover described the amendment as adding Schedule C, which identifies funding sources and the positions to be funded. City staff said the new economic development director position's salary is drawn from existing budget lines and that the combined proposals preserve previously proposed salary levels. Mr. McCutcheon (city staff) said Exhibit C showed the adjustments would be contained within the general fund and specific budget units and that the total proposed expenditures for the exhibit equaled $301,761 (personnel costs).

Vice President Jones moved to amend Resolution 3 by moving $20,000 into the council's legal-services line to ensure adequate external counsel funding; the amendment passed by roll call 7–0. After further discussion and assurances that the specific salary numbers would be provided in writing, the council voted 7–0 to pass Resolution 3 as amended. President Hill read a settlement framework describing mutual commitments between the mayor and council, including ending the practice of appointing acting department heads beyond 120 days without advice and consent and funding the three positions through the reallocation.