Schuylkill County Commissioners approved a budget for 2026 that holds the line on property taxes.
The unanimous vote Wednesday morning on the $78.2 million spending plan sets the new, equalized (revenue-neutral) millage at 3.729 mills. That means for every $1,000 in assessed value, a property owner owes $3.729 in property tax for 2026.
Of that 3.729 mills, 3.613 of it goes to the County’s General Fund balance. The remaining 0.116 mills goes to the funded debt account.
The per-capita tax remains steady at $5.
Last month, the Commissioners were presented with a preliminary budget that called for a 10% tax increase. In the first year post-reassessment, the County and municipal governments are required by law to set a revenue-neutral millage and are then permitted to raise taxes by a maximum of 10%.
However, in the last month, the County says it was able to reduce spending in some areas and transfer about $5 million from its unassigned fund balance, or its reserve, to hold the line on the property tax rate for next year.
Despite that transfer, Schuylkill County government still has $21 million in its unassigned fund balance headed into next year. County Finance Director Glenn Geissinger said that the County has an additional operating reserve that will last longer than 60 days.
That healthy operating reserve, officials have said, allowed the County government to avoid taking out a short-term loan to cover costs that are normally funded by state and federal governments. In 2025, that became an issue due to a prolonged federal government shutdown and an even longer budget impasse with state government in Harrisburg.
“The County is in really good financial shape,” Schuylkill County Commissioners Chairman Larry Padora said Wednesday.
Commissioner Boots Hetherington praised the work of Geissinger and County Controller Sharyn Yackenchick and Treasurer Linda Yeich for strategic investments of that reserve money which generated about $100,000 in extra revenue.
“Over the years, we’ve always had strong reserves,” Commissioner Gary Hess said. “That’s one thing we constantly try to continue to do.”
He told The Canary that a little more than $1 million in reduced spending is seen in the cost of healthcare to County employees. That comes without having to reduce the quality of healthcare employees receive, he added.
Padora said the County was able to negotiate a better rate by pitting competitors against each other.
“When they say they have a 14% increase, we say ‘Why?’,” he said. “We pitted Highmark against Capital Blue. Who wanted our business more?”
A “health fund” that had about $4 million in it was also another place to find savings to balance the budget.
Some positions were also cut from the County workforce but no employee was axed. Cuts came in the form of not filling positions that became vacant. Padora credited the row offices at the Courthouse for trimming their budgets in the last month to allow the County to avoid a tax hike for 2026.
In addition to cuts, Padora said the County is bringing in more revenue – upwards of 30% more – from Elite Revenue Solutions now running the County’s Tax Claims office.
2026 Schuylkill County Budget Analysis
| Description | Category | Current 2025 Budget | Actual 2024 | 2026 Req. | 2026 Adj. | 2026 Final | $ Change (vs '25) | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL FUND | Revenue | $81,370,259 | $70,060,688 | $74,325,864 | -$1,850,484 | $72,475,380 | -$8,894,879 | -10.93% |
| Expense | $89,045,792 | $68,837,460 | $93,886,514 | -$15,629,826 | $78,256,688 | -$10,789,104 | -12.12% | |
| Balance | -$7,675,533 | $1,223,228 | -$19,560,650 | $13,779,342 | -$5,781,308 | $1,894,225 | -24.68% | |
| LOCAL USE FUNDS | Revenue | $800,600 | $916,589 | $826,100 | $0 | $826,100 | $25,500 | 3.19% |
| Expense | $1,801,500 | $701,234 | $2,251,500 | $0 | $2,251,500 | $450,000 | 24.98% | |
| Balance | *($1,000,900)* | $215,355 | -$1,425,400 | $0 | -$1,425,400 | -$424,500 | 42.41% | |
| LIQUID FUELS | Revenue | $782,500 | $888,732 | $816,600 | $0 | $816,600 | $34,100 | 4.36% |
| Expense | $3,244,482 | $459,653 | $1,726,500 | $0 | $1,726,500 | -$1,517,982 | -46.79% | |
| Balance | -$2,461,982 | $429,079 | -$909,900 | $0 | -$909,900 | $1,552,082 | -63.04% | |
| DEMOLITION | Revenue | $1,499,000 | $869,644 | $1,503,000 | $0 | $1,503,000 | $4,000 | 0.27% |
| Expense | $3,455,250 | $360,960 | $3,943,000 | $0 | $3,943,000 | $487,750 | 14.12% | |
| Balance | *($1,956,250)* | $508,684 | -$2,440,000 | $0 | -$2,440,000 | -$483,750 | 24.73% | |
| OTHER SPECIAL REVENUE | Revenue | $190,000 | $243,255 | $344,765 | -$150,000 | $194,765 | $4,765 | 2.51% |
| Expense | $597,180 | $119,622 | $537,913 | -$150,000 | $387,913 | -$209,267 | -35.04% | |
| Balance | -$407,180 | $123,633 | -$193,148 | $0 | -$193,148 | $214,032 | -52.56% | |
| HUMAN SERVICE COMPLEX | Revenue | $236,506 | $235,957 | $269,001 | -$3,500 | $265,501 | $28,995 | 12.26% |
| Expense | $346,355 | $303,143 | $377,250 | -$6,000 | $371,250 | $24,895 | 7.19% | |
| Balance | *($109,849)* | -$67,186 | -$108,249 | $2,500 | -$105,749 | $4,100 | -3.73% | |
| 911 | Revenue | $9,200,233 | $7,444,719 | $12,859,666 | -$3,749,735 | $9,109,931 | -$90,302 | -0.98% |
| Expense | $9,200,233 | $7,532,410 | $12,859,666 | -$3,749,735 | $9,109,931 | -$90,302 | -0.98% | |
| Balance | $0 | -$87,691 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| AMERICAN RESCUE PLAN | Revenue | $0 | $11,143,294 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Expense | $0 | $11,143,306 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| Balance | *$0* | -$12 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| TAX REASSESSMENT | Revenue | $100,000 | $158,662 | $0 | $0 | $0 | -$100,000 | -100% |
| Expense | $3,287,920 | $2,935,382 | $0 | $0 | $0 | -$3,287,920 | -100% | |
| Balance | -$3,187,920 | -$2,776,720 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $3,187,920 | -100% | |
| OTHER AGENCY FUNDS | Revenue | $4,008,437 | $4,220,443 | $4,487,971 | $0 | $4,487,971 | $479,534 | 11.96% |
| Expense | $4,567,537 | $4,220,443 | $4,437,021 | -$48,100 | $4,388,921 | -$178,616 | -3.91% | |
| Balance | -$559,100 | $0 | $50,950 | $48,100 | $99,050 | $658,150 | -117.72% | |
| OFFICE OF SENIOR SERVICES | Revenue | $6,471,082 | $7,282,703 | $6,134,729 | $0 | $6,134,729 | -$336,353 | -5.20% |
| Expense | $6,471,082 | $6,467,235 | $6,134,729 | $0 | $6,134,729 | -$336,353 | -5.20% | |
| Balance | $0 | $815,468 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| AGENCY ADVISORY FUND | Revenue | $2,545 | $1,398 | $2,510 | $0 | $2,510 | -$35 | -1.38% |
| Expense | $2,545 | $1,265 | $2,510 | $0 | $2,510 | -$35 | -1.38% | |
| Balance | $0 | $133 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| DRUG & ALCOHOL | Revenue | $4,179,764 | $6,190,382 | $4,297,180 | $0 | $4,297,180 | $117,416 | 2.81% |
| Expense | $4,642,056 | $4,186,831 | $4,118,818 | $0 | $4,118,818 | -$523,238 | -11.27% | |
| Balance | -$462,292 | $2,003,551 | $178,362 | $0 | $178,362 | $640,654 | -138.58% | |
| MENTAL HEALTH | Revenue | $8,256,325 | $8,443,787 | $8,787,762 | $0 | $8,787,762 | $531,437 | 6.44% |
| Expense | $8,256,325 | $8,443,786 | $8,787,762 | $0 | $8,787,762 | $531,437 | 6.44% | |
| Balance | *$0* | $1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| CHILDREN AND YOUTH | Revenue | $30,639,284 | $28,016,115 | $34,383,851 | -$596,069 | $33,787,782 | $3,148,498 | 10.28% |
| Expense | $30,639,284 | $28,016,115 | $34,383,851 | -$596,069 | $33,787,782 | $3,148,498 | 10.28% | |
| Balance | *$0* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| DOMESTIC RELATIONS | Revenue | $2,987,589 | $2,749,959 | $3,213,223 | -$74,801 | $3,138,422 | $150,833 | 5.05% |
| Expense | $2,822,087 | $3,155,900 | $3,177,104 | -$74,801 | $3,102,303 | $280,216 | 9.93% | |
| Balance | *$165,502* | -$405,941 | $36,119 | $0 | $36,119 | -$129,383 | -78.18% | |
| OFFENDER SUPERVISION FUND | Revenue | $600,500 | $621,671 | $600,425 | $0 | $600,425 | -$75 | -0.01% |
| Expense | $304,481 | $230,472 | $284,224 | $0 | $284,224 | -$20,257 | -6.65% | |
| Balance | $296,019 | $391,199 | $316,201 | $0 | $316,201 | $20,182 | 6.82% | |
| SCBG PROGRAM FUND | Revenue | $6,965,053 | $2,022,472 | $5,853,147 | $0 | $5,853,147 | -$1,111,906 | -15.96% |
| Expense | $6,965,053 | $1,686,210 | $5,849,147 | $0 | $5,849,147 | -$1,115,906 | -16.02% | |
| Balance | $0 | $336,262 | $4,000 | $0 | $4,000 | $4,000 | 100% | |
| AFFORDABLE HOUSING | Revenue | $236,500 | $239,201 | $240,000 | $0 | $240,000 | $3,500 | 1.48% |
| Expense | $236,500 | $119,664 | $231,200 | $0 | $231,200 | -$5,300 | -2.24% | |
| Balance | $0 | $119,537 | $8,800 | $0 | $8,800 | $8,800 | 100% | |
| COAL LANDS | Revenue | $38,000 | $56,951 | $53,000 | $0 | $53,000 | $15,000 | 39.47% |
| Expense | $38,000 | $0 | $38,000 | $0 | $38,000 | $0 | 0% | |
| Balance | *$0* | $56,951 | $15,000 | $0 | $15,000 | $15,000 | 100% | |
| DRIVING UNDER THE INFLUENCE FD | Revenue | $100,400 | $68,770 | $90,600 | $0 | $90,600 | -$9,800 | -9.76% |
| Expense | $100,400 | $72,624 | $80,600 | $0 | $80,600 | -$19,800 | -19.72% | |
| Balance | $0 | -$3,854 | $10,000 | $0 | $10,000 | $10,000 | 100% | |
| G/O CAPITAL PROJECTS | Revenue | $0 | $2,542 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Expense | $0 | $125,727 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| Balance | *$0* | -$123,185 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| CAPITAL RESERVES | Revenue | $30,200 | $54,033 | $40,000 | $0 | $40,000 | $9,800 | 32.45% |
| Expense | $1,000,000 | $39,755 | $0 | $0 | $0 | -$1,000,000 | -100% | |
| Balance | -$969,800 | $14,278 | $40,000 | $0 | $40,000 | $1,009,800 | -104.12% | |
| WORKERS COMPENSATION ISF | Revenue | $475,000 | $591,130 | $475,000 | $0 | $475,000 | $0 | 0% |
| Expense | $475,000 | $449,709 | $475,000 | $0 | $475,000 | $0 | 0% | |
| Balance | *$0* | $141,421 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| FUNDED DEBT | Revenue | $1,702,435 | $1,679,013 | $1,731,340 | $0 | $1,731,340 | $28,905 | 1.70% |
| Expense | $2,079,671 | $2,032,160 | $2,441,946 | $0 | $2,441,946 | $362,275 | 17.42% | |
| Balance | *($377,236)* | -$353,147 | -$710,606 | $0 | -$710,606 | -$333,370 | 88.37% | |
| LONG TERM DEBT | Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Expense | $0 | $2,337,027 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| Balance | *$0* | -$2,337,027 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| OTHER ESCROW FUNDS | Revenue | $4,636,325 | $25,500,782 | $343,700 | $0 | $343,700 | -$4,292,625 | -92.59% |
| Expense | $4,636,325 | $23,273,961 | $2,593,350 | $0 | $2,593,350 | -$2,042,975 | -44.06% | |
| Balance | $0 | $2,226,821 | -$2,249,650 | $0 | -$2,249,650 | -$2,249,650 | 100% | |
| RETIREMENT FUND | Revenue | $48,700,000 | $41,071,681 | $49,751,000 | $0 | $49,751,000 | $1,051,000 | 2.16% |
| Expense | $30,988,121 | $28,882,239 | $31,303,122 | $0 | $31,303,122 | $315,001 | 1.02% | |
| Balance | *$17,711,879* | $12,189,442 | $18,447,878 | $0 | $18,447,878 | $735,999 | 4.16% | |
| FIXED ASSET FUND | Revenue | $0 | $13,552 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Expense | $0 | $454,815 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| Balance | *$0* | -$441,263 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| GASB 34 FUND | Revenue | $0 | -$1,918,432 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Expense | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| Balance | *$0* | -$1,918,432 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| CONDUIT FUNDS | Revenue | $115,640 | $420,790 | $119,196 | $0 | $119,196 | $3,556 | 3.08% |
| Expense | $208,950 | $346,109 | $198,345 | $0 | $198,345 | -$10,605 | -5.08% | |
| Balance | -$93,310 | $74,681 | -$79,149 | $0 | -$79,149 | $14,161 | -15.18% | |
| TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM | Revenue | $5,171,370 | $4,443,640 | $210,000 | $0 | $210,000 | -$4,961,370 | -95.94% |
| Expense | $5,171,370 | $5,054,866 | $210,000 | $0 | $210,000 | -$4,961,370 | -95.94% | |
| Balance | $0 | -$611,226 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY COUNCIL | Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Expense | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| Balance | *$0* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| MARCELLUS SHALE LEGACY | Revenue | $313,600 | $399,595 | $294,300 | $0 | $294,300 | -$19,300 | -6.15% |
| Expense | $1,922,700 | $602,099 | $711,500 | $0 | $711,500 | -$1,211,200 | -62.99% | |
| Balance | -$1,609,100 | -$202,504 | -$417,200 | $0 | -$417,200 | $1,191,900 | -74.07% | |
| COVID 19 CO RELIEF BLOCK GRANT | Revenue | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
| Expense | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| Balance | *$0* | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% | |
| EMERGENCY SOLUTION GRANT-ESG | Revenue | $922,263 | $175,004 | $1,293,143 | $0 | $1,293,143 | $370,880 | 40.21% |
| Expense | $922,263 | $175,005 | $1,293,143 | $0 | $1,293,143 | $370,880 | 40.21% | |
| Balance | *$0* | -$1 | $0 | $0 | $0 | $0 | 0% |
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