The Bradford County Board of County Commissioners voted 5-0 on July 1 to adopt a resolution establishing a Bradford County Fire Protection Municipal Service Benefit Unit and beginning the assessment process for fiscal year 2025–26.

The action came as county finance staff presented a working budget summary that projects shrinking general-fund reserves and flags several recurring cost pressures. Dana, finance staff, told commissioners the budget uses available fund balances to help balance next year’s spending but cautioned, “These fund balances are estimates and could be affected by any large, last‑minute purchases between now and the end of the current fiscal year.”

Why it matters: the board’s reserves were shown at roughly $9.4 million, but county staff said the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) benchmark of two months of operating revenue equals about $7 million for Bradford County. After that recommended emergency fund is set aside, staff estimates about $2.4 million would remain for contingencies — a marked decline from the current-year level.

Key facts: Dana presented a consolidated working budget that lists expenditures at about $86,914,000, including regular expenditures ($31,759,000), grant expenditures ($13,405,000), transfers out ($29,911,000) and reserves ($11,838,000). The draft includes a 3% cost‑of‑living adjustment, current retirement rates and a 12.7% assumed increase in AdMed renewal rates.

Board discussion focused on whether a fire assessment could offset reserve declines. County staff projected that a fire assessment set at 50% would raise roughly $1.6 million. Commissioners and staff repeatedly noted that even with that revenue the general-fund reserve trend would still be downward because of planned capital expenses and other recurring costs. Commissioner Dahlgren and Commissioner Dunbar joined the motion to approve the consent agenda earlier in the meeting; the fire-resolution motion was made by Commissioner Dolphrey and seconded by Commissioner Thompson and carried 5–0.

Staff repeatedly warned that if the assessment or other anticipated revenues do not materialize, the board will have to consider expenditure cuts or other options. Dana said staff expects to update the available fund-balance estimates again after third-quarter reports are compiled and before the tentative budget is presented.

Taper: County staff asked commissioners to keep near-term obligations — including an expected half‑million contribution to solid waste next year and state matching requirements for certain programs — in mind while finalizing the budget. The board set the tentative budget schedule and asked staff to return with updated quarter‑end numbers and any other required adjustments before tentative adoption in August.