Mercer County Commissioners reveal eight key legislative priorities for 2024

Mercer County Commissioners have joined county leaders across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in revealing key legislative properties for 2024.

According to a press release, commissioners revealed eight key properties, including a call for adequate, sustainable funding for the 911 system across the commonwealth, vote-by-mail reforms, right-to-know law reforms, and much more.

Commissioners say a strong, connected 911 system is crucial to ensuring that services can be provided efficiently in emergencies and keep up with the pace of ever-changing technological advances to maximize emergency service delivery.

County Commissioner and East End Fire Department Chief Bill Finley says while lawmakers voted to increase the 911 surcharge to $1.95 until 2026, this is not the amount counties need to continue to serve the public during a crisis.

"In 2023, Mercer County provided approximately 28% of the funds needed to provide 911 services from our general fund. County Commissioners will continue to advocate for changes to the 911 law that will fix this problem well in advance of the 2026 sunset," Finley said.

Additionally, counties have also prioritized the following:

- County mental health base funding increase

- Addressing inmates with mental health issues

- Increasing the prevailing wage threshold

- Right-to-know law reforms

- Vote-by-mail reforms

- Broadband access and development

- Juvenile detention capacity crisis

County Commissioner Tim McGonigle says this list is just a small snapshot of what county government does.

"We are currently in the process of establishing a task force here at the county to solve the juvenile detention capacity crisis. We can't wait for the state any longer," McGonigle said.

In terms of mental health issues, counties are asking for a substantial investment of state dollars to rebuild and strengthen community crisis services, residential mental health programs, and other locally provided care to stabilize mental health services and assist hospitals with capacity concerns.

Additionally, county leaders say unmet community behavioral health needs continue to drive up the population of county jails. County jails also struggle to locate and retain qualified mental health professionals to meet these increasing needs sufficiently.

In terms of juvenile detention centers, counties are working to ensure that justice-involved youth receive timely community-based service when appropriate and are cared for and protected in these settings when necessary for their own safety and that of the community.

Counties are also calling for a resolution to the gaps in the Election Code that need clarity and uniformity, like provisions related to the law on counties' authority to use drop boxes for mail-in ballots, as well as clear, concise guidelines for curing ballot deficits and parties sending in mail-in ballot applications.

On broadband access and development, counties support prioritizing efforts to connect rural and hard-to-reach areas while aligning focus to digital equity, literacy, and access initiatives.

Finally, on right-to-know law reform, counties support addressing loopholes in the current request process without hindering transparency.

Mercer County Commissioner Ann Coleman says these priorities cover a small portion of services provided by dedicated county professionals.

"We remain committed to enhancing the lives of all residents by ensuring that county services are accessible, efficient, and available to all who need them. Many of the services we provide are mandated by the state government, and we must work with our local legislators to ensure that they know what resources we need," Coleman said.