Fulton County commissioners adopt 2026 tentative budget, approve personnel changes and routine contracts

Fulton County commissioners unanimously adopted the county’s 2026 tentative budget during their meeting on Nov. 25, 2025, in McConnellsburg.

Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to adopt the 2026 Tentative Budget as presented by Chief Financial Officer Mike Lamb and Fiscal Administrator Sue Reed; the board voted in favor and set final adoption for Dec. 30, 2025. The tentative budget presentation and adoption were described by county fiscal staff as the next formal step in the budget process ahead of the December meeting.

The adoption was one of several administrative and personnel actions the board approved that morning. Commissioners accepted HR Administrator Mary Huston’s proposal to amend Section 212, “Employee Benefits,” of the county HR Manual and asked Huston to return with formalized language for official approval at a later date. Commissioner Steven L. Wible moved to accept the proposal; the motion carried unanimously.

The board also approved a staffing classification change in Veterans Affairs: Commissioner Hervey P. Hann moved to classify Veterans Affairs Director Richard Newman as working the equivalent of 30 hours per week, qualifying him as full-time with benefits, citing additional duties assigned by the state related to the Disabled Veterans Real Estate Tax Exemption. That motion passed unanimously.

Other actions included approval of multiple routine payments and vendor invoices: payroll dated Nov. 28, 2025 in the amount of $125,126.16; payables dated Nov. 28, 2025 totaling $674,010.68 (with $213,274.44 charged to the General Fund and remaining amounts allocated across identified special funds); EPayment Now dog license fees ($2,363.50); a William Penn Printing invoice ($4,487.70); Elect IT Solutions staffing for December ($9,854.00); and a HART license and support invoice ($11,815.00). Commissioners also authorized a CCAP PCoRP installment contribution ($45,442.00 final installment; total contribution $151,474.00).

The board approved reappointment letters for Conservation District directors Gene Mellott and Mark Knepper and approved an amended Title IV-D attorney contract for Domestic Relations, which had been previously signed on Sept. 16, 2025. Commissioners retroactively authorized Chief Clerk Stacey M. Shives to electronically execute Krivak Trust signatory documents related to the Treasurer’s Office transitioning and retroactively approved her travel to a Nov. 14, 2025 PCHIPC membership meeting.

Commissioner Randy H. Bunch approved a request from the Fulton County Association of Township Officials to plant a commemorative tree on the courthouse lawn for the America250PA celebration, and the board signed a letter designating Marty Mettille as Fulton County’s advisor for local America250PA events. Commissioners also authorized Interim County Treasurer Amy Bishop to obtain a county credit card for the Treasurer’s Office and approved submission of a Wellness Improvement Program grant application requesting $1,769.60 to reimburse drinking water and purchase an automated external defibrillator for a newly purchased county building at 101 Lincoln Way West.

A publicly noticed bid opening for the sale of 119 North Second Street in McConnellsburg was held and drew no bids. The board entered an executive session for legal matters from 8:06 a.m. to 8:41 a.m. and reconvened to complete the agenda. The meeting adjourned at 11:45 a.m.; separate minutes are on file for the Retirement Board, Salary Board, Safety Committee, and Election Board meetings referenced during the session.