Berks County finance officers report stronger‑than‑expected pension valuation and weekly disbursements

Berks County finance officials told the Board of Commissioners on Jan. 13 that the county’s pension valuation exceeded the budget assumption and that weekly accounts payable totals were in the multi‑million‑dollar range.

Treasurer Mitch Darkort said the county opened with a cash balance of $221,881,234.75, reported a balance to declare of $5,893,365.75 and a remaining balance of $215,287,869.00. Controller Joe Rudderall reported accounts payable and total cash disbursements for the week ending Jan. 9, 2026, of $12,391,451.85.

Controller staff provided pension valuation figures: a year‑end value was read as $650,980,000 (described on the record as “almost $651,000,000”), and the chair relayed an updated figure “as of the end of yesterday” of $660,000,000. Officials cautioned that market volatility means there are no guarantees the valuation will hold and said the county’s 2025 budget had been built on a minimum valuation assumption of $639,000,000.

The officials said the stronger valuation is positive for taxpayers because shortfalls in a defined‑benefit component would otherwise require increased local funding. The controller said the full retirement board will receive complete numbers at the next meeting.

No formal fiscal policy changes were proposed at this meeting; the figures were presented as informational updates to commissioners.