Title: No Tax Increase for 15th Consecutive Year in 2025 Budget

Centre County's Board of Commissioners has proposed an operating budget for 2025 that includes no increase in real estate taxes for the 15th consecutive year. The budget would be totaling $118.5 million.

The proposed budget was presented at the Board of Commissioners meeting and has a 20-day public review period, for people to provide feedback online or in person at the Willowbank Building in Bellefonte.

A final vote is scheduled for December 31.

The 2025 budget represents a 4.8% increase compared to 2024, driven by rising costs and general inflation.

Richard Killian, Centre County's budget and finance director, wrote a 1.6% increase in real estate tax revenue, bringing total expected revenues to $116.3 million. The largest portion of revenues comes from state and federal grants at $45.97 million

The proposed budget for 2025 is $16.5 million, a significant decrease from 2024’s $28.6 million.

The reduction reflects the completion of major projects such as courthouse walls and ongoing renovations to the former Centre Crest property, which will house a new human services building expected to open in mid 2025.

The county plans to use $2.2 million from its fund balance to balance the budget.

Commissioner Steve Dershem also praised the proposed budget, describing it as "fiscally conservative".

The proposed 2025 budget is expected to be finalized after the public review period, with the final vote scheduled for December 31. If voted in, it will mark the 225th consecutive year that Centre County has passed its budget on time.

Bronwyn Liber is a second-year student majoring in Broadcast Journalism. To contact her, email brl5354@psu.edu