A Marion Township supervisor recently said the township would not have a public sewer system if not for funding through the Community Development Block Grant — a point he is emphasizing now to make sure municipalities like his can get a similar benefit.

The proposed 2026 federal budget does not fund the Community Development Block Grant — a program used by the county and municipalities for infrastructure and housing improvements in areas with low-to-moderate-income residents. Already, some municipalities, like Marion Township, have drafted letters supporting the program to be sent to federal and state lawmakers representing the county.

Butler County, which administers the program for most municipalities, receives just under $1 million a year from the grant, but has obtained other block grant funds to pay for large projects, such as the $5 million Marion Township project.

Among the other municipalities in Butler County that received money through the program are Harrisville, whose stormwater system got a nearly $300,000 update using a block grant; Chicora, which replaced water lines with block grant money; and Petrolia, which had new storm sewers installed about 15 years ago thanks to the grant.

Other administrators in the county have also iterated the importance of the block grant, like Ed Mauk, executive director of the Butler County Housing and Redevelopment Authority, who said the grant helps subsidize rent for low-income families.

The $1 million a year Butler County receives through the block grant is worth more than the sum of its parts because of the number of people the projects it pays for help. Even townships that do have not directly received block grant funding should campaign for it to continue to be funded, because chances are, their residents have still benefited from its use.

Keep the Community Development Block Grant alive so low-income areas can receive the benefits of public projects.

— ET