Bucks County Commissioners on Wednesday approved early 2026 appropriations to ensure continued operations for two key organizations impacted by Pennsylvania’s delayed state budget.
Commissioner Chairperson Bob Harvie, a Democrat, and Commissioner Gene DiGirolamo, a Republican, approved $4.6 million for Bucks County Community College and $150,000 for the nonprofit Bucks County Opportunity Council. Commissioner Diane Ellis-Marseglia, a Democrat, was not present for the votes.
The two organizations requested advance funding from the commissioners because state budget delays threaten their ability to maintain services, Bucks County Chief Operating Officer Margaret McKevitt said.
“The problem, of course, with the state budget is that we rely on state funding to provide services,” said Harvie. “If the state has not come through with funding for the community college or for the Opportunity Council, they still have to continue their operations. They can’t just shut down.”
The community college approached the county because of the lack of movement in both state and federal budgets for their appropriation, while the Bucks County Opportunity Council runs a food program that is also subject to funding delays due to the stalled state budget, McKevitt said.
“This is obviously not something we want to do. It’s sort of extraordinary in terms of what we’re doing, but we have to keep these two funded,” Harvie said. “Absent of a state budget, we really don’t have a choice.”
Pennsylvania has been without a 2025-2026 budget since the legislature has been unable to agree to a spending plan. On the federal level, there has been uncertainty and cuts on federal spending as part of President Donald Trump’s second term and pledge to review spending.
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