Planning commission reviews draft budget and staffing options as two senior staff resignations prompt executive session

Blair County planning staff presented a draft FY2026–27 operating budget on May 28 and outlined two staffing scenarios to address recent resignations. The packet compared FY2025–26 expenses through May 22 with proposed budgets and presented Option A (add an executive director and a 0.5 FTE strategic grants person, ~4.5 personnel) and Option B (add an executive director and a full strategic planner/grants person, totaling five personnel). Staff also noted a 12% increase in health‑insurance costs and recommended a 3% salary increase for existing personnel.

Jessica (staff) said unspent FY2025–26 funds would be carried forward and that stormwater grant tasks, public‑meeting costs and third‑party engineering support will be significant items in FY2026–27. Commissioners questioned whether county advisory reviews duplicate municipal reviews and discussed possible procedural changes to reduce staff time. Staff said advisory reviews are required by state municipal planning rules and are intended to serve municipalities without in‑house planning capacity.

The executive director and strategic planner resignations were announced; commissioners scheduled an executive session to address legal and personnel issues and discussed advertising for new positions. The commission also approved several procedural items by voice vote during the meeting (bulk staff‑level reviews, clearinghouse items, a PennDOT signature authorization resolution). Staff asked members to return comments on the draft budget before the next meeting so a budget can be presented for adoption.