Snyder County Board of Commissioners Pass 2025 Preliminary Budget
Middleburg, PA – The Snyder County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a $21,385,445 preliminary budget for the 2025 fiscal year during their November 19, 2024, meeting. The proposed budget reflects a revenue deficit of $1,755,019.
The County projects a general fund cash reserve of approximately $5 million at the end of 2024, exceeding the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) recommendation of maintaining at least two months of expenses, or roughly $3.8 million. However, the County has experienced a steady reduction in reserves over the past two years, including a depletion of over $2 million in 2023. While 2024 shows some improvement, budgeted reserves still needed to be accessed to balance operations.
One major factor impacting the County’s reserves since the COVID-19 pandemic has been inflation, which significantly increased expenses, particularly at the County Prison. Escalating costs for medical care and food caused substantial overruns, ultimately leading to the facility’s closure in the summer of 2024. The prison was transformed into a booking center, resulting in a $1,232,135 reduction in budgeted operating expenses for 2025. Additional savings from the restructuring of this department are anticipated in employee-related costs, including health insurance, payroll taxes, and pension contributions, which will further support future budgets.
The 2025 preliminary budget includes three capital projects, all funded partially or entirely through grants:
- Architectural remodeling for handicapped accessibility of the EMA/Planning Building: $325,000
- HVAC upgrades at the Courthouse: $425,000
- West-side development of Faylor Lake: $599,000, including horse trails, a pavilion, and kayak launches.
In addition to addressing expenses, the County has improved transparency in its budgeting process. Previously, the entire fund balance was included in the revenue section, with reserves shown under expenses. This approach distorted the true financial picture. The revised format focuses solely on revenue for the fiscal year and actual expenses. Under this adjusted method, the 2024 budget would be $21,576,127, and the preliminary 2025 budget reflects a $190,682 reduction.
The Commissioners have actively engaged with Department Heads to explore cost-saving measures to further balance the budget. Notably, Snyder County has not raised real estate taxes since 2016 and eliminated the per capita tax in 2020.
The Board remains committed to fiscal responsibility and transparency, ensuring the County’s financial stability while continuing to provide essential services to residents.
The final budget is scheduled for approval at the Board of Commissioners meeting on December 17, 2024.
