The Centre County Board of Commissioners moved on Monday to adopt the tentative 2026 county budget and authorized a 20-day public inspection period, maintaining the county’s property tax millage rate at its current level for the 16th straight year.

Richard, the county finance staff member who presented the plan, told the board the proposed operating budget is approximately $117,000,000 — a 1% decrease from 2025 — and the capital budget is about $3,100,000. He said projections assume a 2.2% increase in real-estate tax revenue driven by assessed-value trends, and estimated a combined total budget near $120,000,000, down roughly $11,000,000 from the prior year because of reduced American Rescue Plan funding and the completion of a new Community Services Building.

The presenter also outlined personnel and benefit costs: about $48,200,000 in total personnel costs (a 5.2% increase) and a $12,600,000 contribution for employee health insurance and retirement (up about 7.7%). He said grants reimburse roughly 40% of personnel costs and that the county plans to use about $2,000,000 from general-fund reserves to balance the budget while targeting a 15% reserve level consistent with Government Finance Officers Association guidance.

Commissioners praised department staff and emphasized the difficulty of balancing flat-to-slowing real-estate growth with rising service costs. Commissioner Dershow urged staff to explore ways to reduce the projected $2,000,000 reserve draw and to seek efficiencies to address what he described as a structural deficit.

After discussion Commissioner Concepcion moved to adopt the tentative budget and authorize advertising for public inspection; Commissioner Dershow seconded the motion. The motion carried by voice vote.

A copy of the tentative budget will be available in the commissioners’ office during the 20-day public review. The board is scheduled to consider final adoption at its regular meeting on Dec. 23.