Berks County Board of Commissioners Meeting 11/5/26 | Berks County, PA

The Berks County Board of Commissioners meeting on November 5, 2026, included an economic development update from the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance (GRCA). GRCA reported meeting with 93 companies through the end of Q3 and described a state financing pipeline of about $7 million associated with projects totaling $19.6 million. It also reported that Berks County projects received nearly $1.6 million in Local Share Account awards, including projects involving Friend Inc., Schuylkill River Greenways, and Opportunity House. The presentation also covered business expansion, workforce and financing needs, and housing affordability.

The commissioners approved the agenda by motion, with no opposition. It included a resolution for $305,618 in 2026 budget transfers and $3,449,756 in appropriations, plus six contract agreements or amendments: three involving Children and Youth Services and Juvenile Probation, and one each involving the coroner, facilities and operations, and treasurer and tax claim. Other approved items included renewal of Arch excess workers’ compensation coverage for one year, with Engel, Hambright and Davies authorized to bind the coverage; authorization for Palmetto Posting Inc. to provide services related to real estate tax sales; and a tax-deduction allocation to NTEC Engineering for a county jail, youth detention center, and central steam plant project. The contract agenda did not specify the six agreements’ vendors or values. The controller reported $10,209,041.04 in cash disbursements for the week ending November 6.