News Date: Wednesday, January 29, 2025
For these three priorities to come to fruition, counties are relying on a strong partnership with the legislature and the Shapiro administration.
County leaders from across the Commonwealth came together at the Pennsylvania State Capitol Wednesday morning to unveil their three legislative priorities for 2025. Headlining these priorities was funding and reauthorizing the state 911 system.
"This is something that must be addressed, as 911 call volume is increasing while revenue from the 911 surcharge has failed to maintain pace with system costs over the last several years," said CCAP President and Indiana County Commissioner Sherene Hess. "This life-saving service cannot become a perpetual backburner issue."
The 2025 priorities were selected by CCAP members as the issues with the greatest significance and the most potential for positive impact to counties in the coming year.
“These priorities reflect our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional services while using taxpayer dollars in the most effective and efficient way possible,” Hess said.
In addition to 911 funding and reauthorization, counties have also prioritized increasing the funding for the county mental health system and mail-in voting reform.
Watch the full press conference here.
On Mental Health Base Funding Increase
Counties are urging the state to act quickly on increasing and sustaining annual investments in the mental health community-based system to help counties maintain and rebuild the existing safety net of services.
"It’s not hyperbole to say the lack of adequate state funding, paired with increased demand, has pushed the community mental health system to the point of collapse," said Northampton County Commissioner Lori Vargo Heffner. "When no appropriate diversion exists, the remaining solutions are hospitals or incarceration, both of which are not appropriate settings for mental health treatment and are more costly."
On Mail-in Voting Reform
Counties support resolving the ambiguities and gaps in the Election Code for which counties need clarity and uniformity, including provisions related to the law on counties’ authority to use drop boxes for mail-in ballots as was well clear and concise guidelines for curing ballot defects and third parties sending in mail-in ballot applications.
"2024 was filled with election talk and counties are proud of the way we administered free, fair and accurate elections. But 2025 is the time to have real discussions about vote-by-mail reform," said Snyder County Commissioner Joe Kantz. "These are changes that can be made by the state to increase voter confidence, take stress off of election officials and make Pennsylvania elections more efficient."
For these three priorities to come to fruition, counties are relying on a strong partnership with the legislature and the Shapiro administration.
“Together, we can implement solutions that better reflect the needs of Pennsylvanians, improve stewardship of taxpayer dollars, reduce cost, increase local flexibility and assure the quality of services we provide,” Hess said.
"This is something that must be addressed, as 911 call volume is increasing while revenue from the 911 surcharge has failed to maintain pace with system costs over the last several years," said CCAP President and Indiana County Commissioner Sherene Hess. "This life-saving service cannot become a perpetual backburner issue."
The 2025 priorities were selected by CCAP members as the issues with the greatest significance and the most potential for positive impact to counties in the coming year.
“These priorities reflect our ongoing commitment to providing exceptional services while using taxpayer dollars in the most effective and efficient way possible,” Hess said.
In addition to 911 funding and reauthorization, counties have also prioritized increasing the funding for the county mental health system and mail-in voting reform.
Watch the full press conference here.
On Mental Health Base Funding Increase
Counties are urging the state to act quickly on increasing and sustaining annual investments in the mental health community-based system to help counties maintain and rebuild the existing safety net of services.
"It’s not hyperbole to say the lack of adequate state funding, paired with increased demand, has pushed the community mental health system to the point of collapse," said Northampton County Commissioner Lori Vargo Heffner. "When no appropriate diversion exists, the remaining solutions are hospitals or incarceration, both of which are not appropriate settings for mental health treatment and are more costly."
On Mail-in Voting Reform
Counties support resolving the ambiguities and gaps in the Election Code for which counties need clarity and uniformity, including provisions related to the law on counties’ authority to use drop boxes for mail-in ballots as was well clear and concise guidelines for curing ballot defects and third parties sending in mail-in ballot applications.
"2024 was filled with election talk and counties are proud of the way we administered free, fair and accurate elections. But 2025 is the time to have real discussions about vote-by-mail reform," said Snyder County Commissioner Joe Kantz. "These are changes that can be made by the state to increase voter confidence, take stress off of election officials and make Pennsylvania elections more efficient."
For these three priorities to come to fruition, counties are relying on a strong partnership with the legislature and the Shapiro administration.
“Together, we can implement solutions that better reflect the needs of Pennsylvanians, improve stewardship of taxpayer dollars, reduce cost, increase local flexibility and assure the quality of services we provide,” Hess said.