Airport, passenger rail service, fiscal responsibility among 2025 priorities for Berks commissioners
There's going to be a lot happening in Berks County this year.
As is the case most years, the county government will be pretty busy trying to meet the needs of the community in 2025. Perhaps even a little more so than typical.
Commissioners Christian Leinbach, Michael Rivera and Dante Santoni Jr. took some time during an operations meeting Tuesday morning to lay out their priorities for this year.
Here is some of what they had to say.
Leinbach prioritizes finances, local airport, passenger rail
Berks County Commissioner Christian Leinbach is shown in this file photo. (BILL UHRICH — READING EAGLE)
Practicing fiscal responsibility: Leinbach said the county leadership team has done its best to craft reasonable spending plans that highlight the priorities of the county.
While no one wants to raise taxes, he said implementing incremental increases like the nearly 9% increase in 2024 and 8% in the latest budget is more responsible than kicking the can down the road and eventually having a massive hike.
Leinbach said he believes the recent tax increase was necessary. He pointed out that since he first took office in 2008 the rate of inflation has increased by nearly 50%, and the county has raised taxes by just under 20% during that same time.
'We are still way below the cost of living, and that is what I celebrate,' he said. 'Not the fact that we had a tax increase but that our spending is dramatically lower than the rate of inflation.'
Leinbach also noted that from 1995 to 2008 the county raised taxes three times: by 39% all at once, by 19% all at once and 34% all at once. He said that amounted to an increase of 92% over 10 years. But the inflation rate during that time was around 40%.
Growing the Reading Regional Airport: Leinbach said he wants to make the Bern Township airfield the best general aviation airport in the state.
He said the airport authority took the first step toward making that a reality last year by becoming the sole provider of fuel and other services at the airfield — a move it is allowed to make based on Federal Aviation Administration regulations.
Leinbach noted a study conducted by PennDOT found the Reading airport generates a total annual economic impact of about $78 million. But, he said, that figure could be even better with the moves they are making to attract commercial service and create more leasable hangar space.
For instance, the airport authority granted approval last week to proceed with the design of a 24,000-square-foot hangar that Wyomissing-based Gaming and Leisure Properties will lease from Reading Aviation. It is part of a larger $16 million project that will include the construction of three hangars.
Restoring passenger rail service: Leinbach said the effort to restore passenger rail service from Reading to Philadelphia is rolling steadily forward.
He said the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority has completed the first phase of a federal program that is providing a critical boost to the effort to restore train service and is on the verge of moving to the second phase.
The second phase of the Corridor Identification and Development Program includes the development of a service plan that would examine ridership and revenue forecasts, capital programming and an operational analysis. It will also involve continuing negotiations with Norfolk Southern about using existing tracks.
The service plan is just the beginning of what is likely to be a long process.
Once the plan is complete, the next phase will include preliminary engineering to determine whether the project is feasible. If it clears that hurdle, the project will move onto the implementation phase that includes the final design.
Rivera prioritizes fiscal responsibility, efficiency, local economy
Berks County Commissioner Michael Rivera speaks during an event at Mi Casa Su Casa in this file photo. (READING EAGLE)
Focusing on fiscal responsibility: Rivera said maintaining fiscal responsibility has been and will continue to be his top priority.
He noted that the commissioners do not take raising taxes lightly, but it is sometimes necessary to ensure long-term economic stability.
'Fiscal responsibility is not just about whether or not we have tax increases,' he said. 'It is about the management of finances in a careful and responsible manner; it deals with making prudent decisions with taxpayer dollars; it is about having a sustainable budget year after year after year.'
Rivera said he will continue to work with the Savings and Efficiency Team, which examines what can be done to make a positive financial impact now and in the future. One area of focus is how to implement technology to be more efficient and responsive.
Improving county governance: Rivera said he is dedicated to making sure county employees are put in the best positions to serve the community.
'This is more than just staff training and development, because there is a lot more that goes into county government,' he said.
River said there needs to be a focus on senior staff development, succession planning, staff training and growth development opportunities and making sure all departments run efficiently.
'How can we be more efficient at the department level?' he said.
Rivera said the county needs to have a continuous learning and improvement mindset, always asking how it can make things better for the community.
Promoting economic development: Rivera said he wants to continue building on the successes of IMAGINE Berks, a strategic action plan that will guide economic development efforts.
He said the plan is a community initiative they hope will result in a positive impact — especially when it comes to the county's need for new housing and redeveloped housing that is accessible and attainable.
Rivera said the county will be working with municipalities and its partners to identify ways to build housing units and improve existing housing in Berks.
Santoni prioritizes transparency, public safety, agriculture
Berks County Commissioner Dante Santoni greets voters outside the Wyomissing Library in this file photo. (BILL UHRICH -READING EAGLE)
Promote transparency in the budget process: Santoni said the last thing he wanted to do his first year in office was vote for a tax increase but credited the commissioners for being transparent about why it was needed.
He said the county provides certain things for residents like services for seniors, veterans, children and people with mental health issues. The county also has obligations to fund public safety, and a large amount is budgeted for the court system and law enforcement.
'In order to do the right thing, sometimes you have to take a little criticism,' he said.
Santoni said he hopes the board can hold the line on taxes in the future but noted that is one of the only ways counties can raise the revenue needed to provide services. So in the meantime, he will continue to press state legislators to give counties alternatives to raise money such as imposing a local sales tax, as officials in Philadelphia and Allegheny counties are already allowed to do.
Focusing on public safety: Santoni said he is looking forward to tackling issues that have to do with public safety.
One of those is restoring the former Berks County Youth Detention Center in Bern Township. The county is in the process of partnering with Dauphin and Lehigh counties to reopen and operate the former center on County Welfare Road.
The center opened in 1990. However, with decreasing numbers of juvenile offenders and an increased focus in the criminal justice system on restorative justice and putting juveniles in the least restrictive environment possible, it closed its doors in 2012.
But with the recent increase in juvenile offenders and the statewide lack of space to detain them, there is a renewed need for the center. That's why the county is looking to breathe new life into it by addressing substantial repairs and upgrades it needs to be suitable to reopen.
'These are kids charged with serious crimes that we need to find a place for so that we can keep our community safe,' he said. 'I think this partnership with Dauphin and Lehigh counties will really provide benefits for us down the road when it comes to funding.'
Advocating for the agricultural community: Santoni said he hopes to make progress on carrying out the goals outlined in a recently unveiled study to better understand the economic impact of the agricultural community and explore ways to support local producers.
The study, titled Growing Berks, is the culmination of a yearlong process involving a diverse group of farmers, agribusinesses, local government officials and community members. It was developed from input from this group and information gathered in partnership with Maryland-based consultant firm Agricultural and Community Development Services.
There are six main areas of focus outlined in Growing Berks: update existing farmland protection programs; expanding knowledge and awareness of career pathways in agriculture and its related fields; identifying and expanding training opportunities; supporting technology infrastructure; supporting market development; and increasing awareness of and access to financing resources.
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