County administrator warns new state operating agreement adds duties without funding

Molly Lakey, administrator for Lebanon County’s mental‑health, intellectual‑disability and early‑intervention programs, told commissioners the state’s 2026 operating agreement for the Office of Developmental Programs substantially increases county duties while providing no new funding or positions. “They are not adding any additional funding or additional staff in order to cover these,” Lakey said, adding that “in all reality, we really should have 1 additional staff member just to cover all the additional responsibilities.”

Lakey said the draft agreement, which runs five years, shifts the county’s role from slot‑based waiver oversight toward broader programmatic and fiscal management. She listed added tasks including monthly management of providers, recruitment oversight and a larger fiscal role to pool and allocate funds rather than manage individual waiver allowances. Lakey said the county has been reviewing “the top 10 changes” since the agreement’s January release and will “do our very best to cover all these additional duties and responsibilities.”

Commissioners voted to approve the agreement while noting the county’s capacity concerns. Several commissioners asked whether the new duties were primarily clerical or treatment‑oriented; Lakey said the changes are “very much high level, management and oversight both fiscally and programmatically.”

Why it matters: The agreement affects services for people with intellectual disabilities and the county’s administrative budget and staffing. Lakey emphasized the county will attempt to absorb the new duties but said the scope suggests at least one additional position is warranted to meet the state’s new expectations.

Next steps: Lakey requested commissioners’ signatures on the contract documents to finalize the county’s role; commissioners approved the operating agreement at the meeting.