At a meeting this morning, the Indiana County Commissioners approved the 2026 budget.
Total revenues for the spending plan come out to $53,068,255, while expenditures are at $53,455,223. Real estate taxes will remain the same at a rate of 6.105 mills.
These numbers vary from the ones that were in the preliminary budget, which detailed total revenues coming in at $52,118,255 and expenses at $53,433,938. County Finance Director Lisa Gregersen said that they were able to find more revenue.
Commissioners were facing a $2.9 million open balance for the budget at the start of February, and started to work on it at that time. Commissioners Chairman Mike Keith said that they were able to knock that down to $386,968.
The commissioners also approved the lease agreements with the Indiana County Tourist Bureau, the county Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Indiana for the Welcome Center in the former First Commonwealth Building at the corner of 6th and Philadelphia Streets. Those leases are for 10 years with projected move-in in mid-January. The agreement includes two 10-year extensions.
