Forest County commissioners adopt 1-mill levy increase, approve disbursements and a probation officer hire

Forest County commissioners met Dec. 17, 2025, and unanimously approved a series of routine financial actions and personnel items, including a 1-mill increase to the county general tax rate.

The Board adopted Resolution 13 of 2025, increasing the general county tax by 1 mill while leaving the library tax at 0.45 mills for a total millage of 22.36. The resolution records total county revenue at $3,279,921.50 and total expenditures at $3,595,444.18. Commissioner Patrick Kline moved the resolution and Commissioner Robert J. Snyder Jr. seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

The board also adopted Resolution 14 of 2025, appointing Statewide Tax Recovery of Pen Argyl, Pennsylvania, as the county’s appointed collector of delinquent per capita taxes. That motion passed unanimously.

In routine fiscal business, commissioners approved payroll and bills across multiple funds (General Fund payroll $63,564.71 and bills $71,128.11; Transportation payroll $15,904.02 and bills $7,215.88; Children & Youth payroll $12,335.57 and bills $10,683.16) and authorized a set of departmental purchases and small equipment items including printer ink, office supplies, building parts, a badge holder and a tail light. Several restricted-account transactions were approved: a November 2025 Tax Claim Bureau disbursement of $24,522.82 (Forest County $9,656.31; Forest County Area School District $12,202.33; municipalities $2,664.18), a 2023 tax sale distribution of $5,063.04, and a 2024 tax sale distribution of $10,657.38 with the allocations described in the record. Commissioners also approved specific checks from the 911 account, Visitor Center account and Firewise Education Center account as listed in the meeting record.

The Board accepted the resignation of Cherry Paluh (housekeeping), effective Dec. 31, 2025, and approved a $1,799.98 payment from the Impact Fee account for a new laptop. The Board also approved $330.75 from the Liquid Fuels account to purchase rock salt for winter maintenance and a $586.10 transfer to the Forest County Transportation Account for November veterans’ transportation fees.

Commissioner Patrick Kline moved and Commissioner Snyder seconded approval for Sheriff Bill Carbaugh to attend the Pennsylvania Sheriff’s Conference Feb. 19–20, 2026; the Association will pay one night’s hotel and an extra night at $119 was approved by the board; mileage and meals will be reimbursed on return. That motion carried unanimously.

Before adjourning, commissioners approved and authorized advertisement of the 2026 meeting schedule: regular business meetings on Jan. 8 and Jan. 22, 2026, thereafter the first and third Thursday of each month at 10:00 a.m. in the Conference Room of the Forest County Annex Building, 530 Elm Street, Tionesta.

Immediately after the commissioners’ session the Salary Board convened. Treasurer Barnes moved to offer the Probation Officer I position to Jared J. Beers at a starting rate of $17.50 per hour plus benefits; Treasurer Barnes seconded the motion and it carried unanimously. The record notes Beers holds bachelor’s degrees in criminal justice and sociology and several required certifications (Acts 34, 151, 114, 126 and 168) plus CPR, First Aid, Narcan and Safe Crisis Management, and approximately two years of field experience.

The meeting opened at 10:00 a.m. and adjourned at 10:12 a.m.; the Salary Board adjourned at 10:13 a.m.