Counties Emphasize Urgent Need for Swift Passage of Full State Budget
News Date: Friday, June 27, 2025
Each day of delay increases fiscal strain, jeopardizes the continuity of critical service.
For more than 240 years, Pennsylvania’s counties have served as essential partners with the Commonwealth in delivering core public services. From the earliest counties founded by William Penn in 1682—Bucks, Philadelphia, and Chester—county governments have evolved to become the primary providers of services such as 911 emergency response, courts and corrections, election administration, and a wide array of human services delivered on behalf of both the state and federal governments.
Among the most vital of these are human services programs that support the most vulnerable among us: children suffering abuse or neglect, individuals battling substance use disorders, residents with mental illness or intellectual disabilities, and seniors requiring long-term care. These services not only safeguard those in direct need, but also uphold the well-being, safety, and stability of entire communities.
To fulfill these responsibilities, counties depend on a reliable and adequately funded state partnership. That partnership has been tested by years of constrained state budgets that have not kept pace with growing program demands, rising costs, and expanding mandates. As counties continue to absorb more responsibility, timely and adequate state funding has become more critical than ever.
While the FY 2025-2026 state budget remains under negotiation, counties recognize the fiscal pressures and competing priorities legislators face in Harrisburg. Nonetheless, these pressures coupled with the consequences of a delayed budget are real and far-reaching for county governments. Many county officials have voiced deep concern that a prolonged impasse in Harrisburg, combined with federal fiscal uncertainty, could compound these impacts—further destabilizing human services systems, threatening access to care, and putting vulnerable residents at risk.
Counties are beginning their budget discussions now well ahead of the end of the calendar year. Inadequate or delayed funding at the state level increases uncertainty for counties—forcing them to front the cost of services, delay or suspend programs, and divert already limited local revenues to plug growing gaps. Even counties with larger budgets are not immune. Delays can force borrowing sooner and in greater amounts, triggering added costs from interest payments and fees. At the end of the day, after programs and services have been downsized or cut, counties ultimately must pass those increased costs to the county property taxpayer. This phenomenon continues as county service responsibilities and demands far outweigh the reality of available funding. During their FY 2025 budget discussions many counties reported needing to increase property taxes to continue to provide those critical, often lifesaving and sustaining services.
Counties understand the budgetary constraints facing the state and recognize the modest increases in some service areas and level funding in others proposed by Governor Shapiro in his FY 2025-2026 budget proposal. However, the Commonwealth’s fiscal outlook continues to limit necessary growth in human services funding. Counties are now facing a dual budget squeeze—rising local needs without commensurate state investment.
To begin addressing this crisis, the top priority for counties for 2025 is our request for a $100 million increase in county mental health base funding. This request is separate from other mental health initiatives the Governor had included in his proposal, such as dedicated school-based programs, and reflects the urgent need to stabilize a system that has been underfunded for more than a decade. This investment would strengthen local capacity, improve access to care, and reduce wait times and service gaps for Pennsylvanians in need of community-based mental health services.
For over two centuries, counties have proven themselves to be dedicated partners in the delivery of vital services. As budget deliberations continue, counties respectfully urge the General Assembly to fully fund the requested $100 million increase for mental health base funding. This is not just a budget line, it is a commitment to strengthening communities, safeguarding public well-being, and ensuring that every Pennsylvanian can access timely, effective mental health care, which will ultimately save the state money in corrections funding and other downstream impacts in years to come.
Counties also emphasize the urgent need for swift passage of the full state budget. Each day of delay increases fiscal strain, jeopardizes the continuity of critical services, and threatens the stability of systems that serve Pennsylvanians in every corner of the Commonwealth. A timely, responsible budget is essential to preserving the services that residents count on—and to upholding the long-standing partnership between state and county government that has served Pennsylvania well for generations.
Counties stand ready to work alongside the General Assembly and the Administration to finalize a state budget that meets this moment with the investments our communities urgently need.
Among the most vital of these are human services programs that support the most vulnerable among us: children suffering abuse or neglect, individuals battling substance use disorders, residents with mental illness or intellectual disabilities, and seniors requiring long-term care. These services not only safeguard those in direct need, but also uphold the well-being, safety, and stability of entire communities.
To fulfill these responsibilities, counties depend on a reliable and adequately funded state partnership. That partnership has been tested by years of constrained state budgets that have not kept pace with growing program demands, rising costs, and expanding mandates. As counties continue to absorb more responsibility, timely and adequate state funding has become more critical than ever.
While the FY 2025-2026 state budget remains under negotiation, counties recognize the fiscal pressures and competing priorities legislators face in Harrisburg. Nonetheless, these pressures coupled with the consequences of a delayed budget are real and far-reaching for county governments. Many county officials have voiced deep concern that a prolonged impasse in Harrisburg, combined with federal fiscal uncertainty, could compound these impacts—further destabilizing human services systems, threatening access to care, and putting vulnerable residents at risk.
Counties are beginning their budget discussions now well ahead of the end of the calendar year. Inadequate or delayed funding at the state level increases uncertainty for counties—forcing them to front the cost of services, delay or suspend programs, and divert already limited local revenues to plug growing gaps. Even counties with larger budgets are not immune. Delays can force borrowing sooner and in greater amounts, triggering added costs from interest payments and fees. At the end of the day, after programs and services have been downsized or cut, counties ultimately must pass those increased costs to the county property taxpayer. This phenomenon continues as county service responsibilities and demands far outweigh the reality of available funding. During their FY 2025 budget discussions many counties reported needing to increase property taxes to continue to provide those critical, often lifesaving and sustaining services.
Counties understand the budgetary constraints facing the state and recognize the modest increases in some service areas and level funding in others proposed by Governor Shapiro in his FY 2025-2026 budget proposal. However, the Commonwealth’s fiscal outlook continues to limit necessary growth in human services funding. Counties are now facing a dual budget squeeze—rising local needs without commensurate state investment.
To begin addressing this crisis, the top priority for counties for 2025 is our request for a $100 million increase in county mental health base funding. This request is separate from other mental health initiatives the Governor had included in his proposal, such as dedicated school-based programs, and reflects the urgent need to stabilize a system that has been underfunded for more than a decade. This investment would strengthen local capacity, improve access to care, and reduce wait times and service gaps for Pennsylvanians in need of community-based mental health services.
For over two centuries, counties have proven themselves to be dedicated partners in the delivery of vital services. As budget deliberations continue, counties respectfully urge the General Assembly to fully fund the requested $100 million increase for mental health base funding. This is not just a budget line, it is a commitment to strengthening communities, safeguarding public well-being, and ensuring that every Pennsylvanian can access timely, effective mental health care, which will ultimately save the state money in corrections funding and other downstream impacts in years to come.
Counties also emphasize the urgent need for swift passage of the full state budget. Each day of delay increases fiscal strain, jeopardizes the continuity of critical services, and threatens the stability of systems that serve Pennsylvanians in every corner of the Commonwealth. A timely, responsible budget is essential to preserving the services that residents count on—and to upholding the long-standing partnership between state and county government that has served Pennsylvania well for generations.
Counties stand ready to work alongside the General Assembly and the Administration to finalize a state budget that meets this moment with the investments our communities urgently need.