CHAMBERSBURG – With winter weather keeping public commenters home, the Franklin County Commission’s Jan. 28 meeting lasted around half an hour during which they approved paying millions in expenses, convened the prison board and received an update from officials on the county’s 2025 budget.
In addition to approving $2.4 million in expenses for the county, the commission also approved paying an undisclosed amount toward jail bills. But the county did not provide a reason for the expenses. The Prison Board, which oversees the county jail, was convened for under one minute, and commissioners neither asked questions nor discussed the spending.
When asked why the details of the expenses are not available to the public, the county stated it was because some “could include information that might need to be redacted,” and recommended submitting a Right-to-Know Law request.
Fiscal Director Janelle Friese and Chief Financial Officer Theresa Beckner presented a review of the 2025 county budget through November, as they are still in the process of closing out December’s figures. Notably, the general fund balance increased by around $400,000 over the same period in 2024, and the property tax brought in around $700,000 more revenue (1.6% higher than 2024) due to taxes paid on new construction.
The county spent less than projected in 2025, below the 2024 level, and the officials explained that was mainly due to an increase in vacant staff positions. Commissioner John Flannery commented that some unfilled positions were removed from the 2026 budget, not because of an intent to cut the county labor force, but to instead reflect the current staffing levels.
The only department expected to exceed its budget for 2025 is Children & Youth Services. Both revenue and expenses were lower for 2025 than they were in 2024, which the officials attributed to the completion of the court facility improvement project.
Commissioners gave the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation authority to acquire land needed to complete the federally funded West King Street bridge project. Planning Director Quentin Clapper explained that the project to renovate two bridges, one over the Falling Spring Creek and one over Conococheague Creek in Chambersburg, is already under contract for design and engineering, and that PennDOT is better able to meet the strict federal timelines required to fund the project.
The county received two bids for tax bill printing and mailing and asked staff for a recommendation of which to approve by next week’s meeting.
The commission reappointed 15 people to serve on the Franklin County Visitors Bureau and received a presentation from participants of a leadership development program who evaluated the county’s process for paying invoices and made recommendations for improvements.
The commissioners ended the meeting with an executive session, which is one of the few meetings that can be held behind closed doors, often to discuss legal matters. No votes can be held in an executive session.
The commissioners will next meet Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 10 a.m. at the Franklin County Administration Building. Meetings are also streamed live on YouTube.
