28-02-2025
Board: Somerset County monitoring federal funding review; no impact on county government yet
SOMERSET, Pa. – Like fellow counties statewide, a large percentage of Somerset County's $64 million budget relies on federal allocations.
It adds up to approximately $7 million in 2025, Somerset's commissioners said.
But with the nation now one month into a series of federal funding review orders by President Donald Trump's administration, Somerset's board said the county agencies that rely on federal funds have not yet noticed any changes.
Somerset County Commissioner Pamela Tokar-Ickes said much of the federal funds are tied to human services – such as Children & Youth Services programs to protect children, Head Start and Area Agency on Aging programs – that counties must provide by government mandate.
'We're keeping our finger on the pulse of ... what's happening right now. And as of now, we're not aware of any (routine) drawdowns (in regards to those services) that have been put on hold,' she said.
In simpler terms, federally supported programs were continuing to operate and cover their costs as usual this week, the board said.
'Business as usual is a good thing right now,' President Commissioner Brian Fochtman said.
County officials across all 50 states have also been monitoring how $42 billion in Broadband, Equity, Access and Deployment funds could be impacted. The initiative was largely dedicated to improving high speed reliability in rural areas.
Tokar-Ickes said county partner Tableland Services, which oversees weatherization programs and certain housing assistance programs for Somerset County residents, is also supported by federal funds – and counties are also aware the Trump administration is also taking a national-level look at those funds.
'We're not aware of any changes (as of Tuesday),' she said.
For now, those agencies are using federal dollars that were already contractually approved, she said.
'We don't know what the future will bring,' Tokar-Ickes added, speaking generally about the potential for nationwide cuts to various federal initiatives in the future. 'The question marks are still there.'
Cambria County commissioners were out of the office Wednesday and did not return messages for comment. But staff forwarded a previous late January statement indicating Cambria officials were taking steps necessary to ensure any county-obligated federal funds were pulled down to the county level to prior to the Jan. 28 freeze date to 'ensure services continue.'
Another question mark remains with the 2025 federal budget.
The most recent stopgap expires March 14 and lawmakers in Congress and the Senate are still working on a budget that would authorize a new round of federal spending.
U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson was able to win enough Republican support to pass a budget blueprint through the U.S. House late Tuesday that could now see Senate review. As described, the bill would extend tax breaks that are otherwise on pace to expire and raise the U.S. debt limit by $4 trillion. Democrats say it could also mean cuts to the Medicaid program designed to support low-income Americans and those on disability.
Evening meeting plannedThe Somerset County commissioners' first evening meeting of 2025 will be held March 11.
Somerset County's board will meet in the Commissioners Office meeting room, which is part of the county office building on 300 N. Center Ave.
The commissioners board has scheduled several evening meetings throughout the spring and summer across the county to encourage public participation and awareness of government operations.
