Pike County, PA has issued a resolution calling upon the governor and the legislature of Pennsylvania to prioritize their responsibilities and work collaboratively to finalize a budget without further delay. This urgent appeal comes in response to repeated budgetary delays that have significantly disrupted county operations and imposed undue financial strain on county taxpayers.

The resolution highlights the following key issues:

• In the last 25 years, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has missed at least a dozen budget deadlines, causing significant disruption.
• Counties, school districts and municipalities must pass on-time budgets, unlike the commonwealth.
• These budget delays have cost county taxpayers, with counties often not being reimbursed for the financial impacts.
• Many counties have been forced to borrow money to continue operations due to these delays.
• Severe delays in the past have threatened to increase property taxes for county residents, with the potential for this to occur again in 2026.

“The state’s inability to pass a budget is unacceptable,” said Pike County Commissioner Chairman Matthew M. Osterberg. “We are a rural county that depends on state funding to support our programs from Veterans to emergency services. This is not just a Pike County issue. Every single resident of Pennsylvania will feel the effects.”

The Pennsylvania House and Senate are currently recessed, leaving counties to guess the entire 12 months of the Commonwealth budget for 2026, which is an unjust burden.

The resolution calls for the governor and legislature to:

• Prioritize their responsibilities and work collaboratively to finalize a balanced budget without further delay.
• Not adjourn until a balanced budget is in place, ensuring the fiscal stability of counties and protecting county taxpayers from undue financial strain.

Commissioner Ronald R. Schmalzle said, “Pike County has been waiting decades for critical health care services. Through the Pike Medical Foundation, we now have plans, partners and momentum. The state’s budget impasse poses a serious threat to our progress.”

“After slashing the aging budget earlier this year, now the state fails to pass the 2026 budget in a timely manner. It is unacceptable. Without a finalized budget, we cannot prepare to provide vital services for our residents with our already thin resources,” added Commissioner Christa L. Caceres.

The resolution was adopted by the Board of Commissioners of Pike County on September 17, reflecting the county's firm stance on the necessity of timely and responsible budgetary practices.