

Commissioner Leinbach's
2022 Goals & Objectives
Budget and Spending 15 years with only a 10% increase in County Property taxes.
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Continue to watch head count -
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2008
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FT – 2132
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PT – 459
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2021 (End of year)
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FT – 1777
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PT – 320
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No Tax increase for 2022
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Continued focus on SET - Commissioner Rivera
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Use ARP dollars to benefit those most seriously impacted by COVID and to projects that provide long-term benefit to the people of Berks County
Elections
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Election Dept.
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New Director - In place in Feb. offer made and accepted
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Restructuring of the Dept.
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New rolls of team defined
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Additional staff - New Key staff member hire on today's agenda
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Additional technology - Electronic Poll Books
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Updated detailed policies and procedures
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Election Reforms
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Priorities - Pre-canvassing and moving back the mail in absentee ballot deadline to 14 days. The House leadership is not really interested in election reform. They would rather play politics.
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Other -
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Drop box rules
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Clarify signatures on mail in/absentee ballots
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Clean up voter rolls via state rules
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Naked ballots
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Curing Ballots
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Better Election Equipment storage, maintenance, testing and overall training at new South Campus
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Keep an eye on the Mail-In Ballot case in the Commonwealth Court
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Transportation
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Berks 222 Corridor and the West Shore By-Pass are critically important to Berks County, but funding is a problem.
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Declining state dollars continue to be an issue
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Formula for transportation is a major problem - The "proposal" from the Gov. and Legislature is weak. The real key should be user-based fees. Vehicle Type, weight, miles traveled. State is looking at a combination
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There is some help in the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure bill but not as much as some might think
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Berks County is taking legal action to stop interstate bridge tolling - We already have support from several municipalities along and near I-78 in Berks County.
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Passenger Rail Service – A study was completed this year that shows a plan that would not require annual subsidies from counties. Looking at the possible formation of a tri-state authority to begin the implementation of passenger rail service.
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Next Step is the formation of a Tri-County Passenger Rail Authority
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Board - Three members from Berks plus a Berks Technical Advisory Committee
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Choose Chair and hire Executive Director
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Three-year reauthorization requirement
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Begin negotiations with Operator Amtrak
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Begin negotiations with Norfolk Southern
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COVID – how it impacts the residents and businesses of Berks County.
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Berks CARES Vaccine Center - Run by Penn State St. Joes to continue
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Berks County Health Advisory Panel (HAP) Local healthcare professionals that live and work in our community and are trusted by their peers.
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DoYourPartBerks.com COVID resource
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I pray that 2022 will be the year we exit the pandemic.
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Be kind, be respectful, Be gracious…
New Berks County Jail
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Public process
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rehired CGL and Amended prior agreement
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Timeline will probably allow for a decision on construction the end of 2023 or early 2024…Selecting the most cost-effective method to construct a new jail at the north campus (Again this decision is late 2023 or early 2024)
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Right sizing the jail considering programing, alternative sentencing as well as diversion programs
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Diversionary programs
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Limit non-violent offenders. Bob Williams and electronic monitoring
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Berks County Health Study
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Results should be complete this year
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Careful review of the study results
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Discussion of possible actions by the county and possibly other entities as a result of the study
Reading Regional Airport
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Act on the Authority Board Request to dissolve the board and move the Airport to a County Dept.
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Hopefully complete during 2022
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Form an Airport Advisory Committee.
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All tenants would be members - One per tenant
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Consider 3-5 at large members - Members appointed by Board of Commissioners
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Would meet monthly with airport management to share ideas and concerns
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Complete a Strategic Plan for the Airport
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Airport Issues
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Focus on solid long-term financial plan for airport
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Future of the Sewer Plant - Highest and best use
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Met-Ed/First begin construction of 69KV line. Necessary for any future development in or around the airport
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Growth of overall aviation business at the airport
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