County seeks alternative sources to cover administrative, payroll costs
Butler County officials drew from a separate bank account to cover payroll and revised a health care agreement to address administrative funding shortfalls caused by the state budget impasse at the Wednesday, Oct. 22, commissioners meeting.
Commissioners approved a modification to an agreement between Butler County Human Services and Southwest Behavioral Health Management that allows the company to pay county administrative fees in advance then be reimbursed for eligible expenses.
County Treasurer Diane Marburger said general and administrative payments, which cover things like payroll, benefits and costs associated with administering mental health and drug and alcohol programs, are delayed by one month. The agreement approved at the meeting allows funds to be released to the county earlier so administrative costs don’t have to be drawn from the general fund, Marburger said.
“Those payments are on a month delay, so our administrative dollars were on a month delay,” Marburger said. “This amendment allows the funds to come to us earlier. So, then it will help with our cash flow so the county general fund doesn’t have to cover those costs.”
Southwest Behavioral Health Management is part of Community HealthChoices, a mandatory state-managed program for individuals with disabilities and those eligible for Medicare and Medicaid.
Marburger said the county also drew from a separate general bank account to offset payroll costs, but the county also has $15 million available in a state payment portal.
The commissioners said they do not receive updates from county state legislators about the budget impasse.
The commissioners also approved an application for Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Funds, which could supply $250,000 for the Butler County Acquisition and Rehabilitation Program. The Butler County Housing and Redevelopment Authority will apply and anticipates hearing back in 2026.
Two new members were also appointed to the Election Computation Board, which validates write-in and absentee ballots to verify election accuracy. Butler Township resident Anne Baker and county public defender Patrick Casey’s appointments were approved.
The computation board will meet at 9 a.m. Friday after the election to publicly count votes, according to director Chantell McCurdy.
McCurdy said the Bureau of Elections has distributed more than 16,500 absentee and mail-in ballots and has received about 7,600 back. The deadline to request an absentee or mail-in ballot is Oct. 28, she said.
After debuting electronic poll books at select voting precincts in the May primary, every precinct will have an electronic poll book for the November election.
The commissioners also renewed insurance with Highmark for hospitalization and prescription costs to county employees. Premiums were increased by 6.97% for 2026.
“I’m grateful we were able to negotiate this,” said Commissioner Leslie Osche. “Most of our other counties are seeing double-digit increases, and businesses that we spoke to are getting double-digit increases.”
They also renewed dental insurance with United Concordia at a 2% increase.
Commissioner Kim Geyer and farmer Edward Thiele were also reappointed to the Butler County Conservation District board to serve from Jan. 1, 2026, to Dec. 31, 2029.
The county’s preliminary budget will be presented at the next commissioners meeting Nov. 19.
