The Reader Beat: County Council Notes from November 20, 2025

Following our notes taken during the County Council meeting held on November 20 at 6 p.m.

I attended the county council meeting on Nov. 20 at 6 p.m. Public comments centered around Marchello Woodard and how his family will be grieving during the holiday season. During this meeting, council passed the 2026 budget with some significant amendments. Some constituents commented on those amendments, discussing the lack of resources in lower east side neighborhoods and low pay for county employees. Constituent Jerry Roberts highlighted the small portion of the 2026 budget given to the Diversity Equity and Inclusion Commission (Diverse Erie) in the amount of $500,000. He also discussed how the county failed to give the commission the proposed sum of $10 million when it was created in 2021 and to date the commission has only received half of that funding. "Today, Diverse Erie only received $5 million of the $10 million that was promised. Erie County declared racism as an emergency crisis and it has not been treated as an emergency. I'm asking that Diverse Erie, Black Wall Street, and community centers be fully funded." Council member Andre Horton corroborated Roberts's statements and stated that he would like to see the full $10 million allocated to the commission in future budgets. "Equity and inclusion are very different things, and clearly the BIPOC community hasn't been included in any investment, in fact, our communities have been disinvested," Horton said. 

Council addressed the 2026 budget, reviewed amendments, and approved a .33-millage property tax increase in order to balance the budget. They also allocated funds to programs and organizations such as Diverse Erie, Erie Black Wall Street, and voted to supply body cameras to law enforcement and probation departments. 

• In the 2026 Gaming Fund Budget, council voted 4-3 to fund Black Wall Street nearly $250,000, with Bayle, Schauerman, and Winarski voting no. Council also voted to fund Diverse Erie $250,000 by reducing municipal projects, passing 6-1 with Schauerman voting no. 
• In the 2026 Pleasant Ridge Manor Operating Fund Budget, council voted 4-3 to adjust the budget to the original Pleasant Ridge Proposal, increasing the transfer from the General Fund to $1,533,750 with Bayle, Schauerman, and Winarski voting no. "The proposed budget given by the County Executive has never been reflected by the true expenses incurred by Pleasant Ridge, as a result they have routinely run in the deficit of $1.5 to $2 million and now are in a weird place in that they owe us money," Copeland said. Schauerman disagreed with the amendment, saying: "We will not let them fail but until we take a hard look with consultants, we need to wait on this until we get a clear picture." 
• In the 2026 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Fund Budget council voted 4-3 to increase the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion fund by $250,000 with Bayle, Schauerman, and Winarski voting no. 
• In the General Fund Budget, council voted unanimously to increase equipment in the form of body cameras to the sheriff's department, adult probation, and juvenile probation. 

When it came time to vote to pass the 2026 budget, the council members spoke on the property tax increase. Drexel explained that wages are steadily going up every year and that has to be planned for incrementally. "In order for the county to be stronger, everybody's got to share the wealth of this," Drexel said. Horton added: "We're going to set up a millage and not everyone's going to be happy but they want the services." 

Following the approval of the 2026 budget by council in a vote of 4-3, with Bayle, Schauerman, and Winarski voting no, County Executive Brenton Davis vetoed over $1 million in funding for Diverse Erie, Black Wall Street, and more. 

In new business, council read and voted for the following ordinances and resolutions: 

• After being moved to a second reading by a vote of 5-2, with Schauerman and Bayle voting no, a supplemental appropriation of $250,000 from the 2025 General Fund Budget for Emergency Grant to Second Harvest Food Bank was unanimously passed by council. 
• An ordinance for the supplemental appropriation of $497,755 from the 2025 General Fund Budget for additional grant revenue from the PA Election Integrity Grant had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance for the approval of 2026 Erie Non-Bargaining Employees Pay Plan had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance for the 2026 Appointed Official Salary Ordinance – County Clerk had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• An ordinance for the 2026 Appointed Official Salary Ordinance – First Assistant Public Defender had its first reading and was not voted on.
• An ordinance for the 2026 Appointed Official Salary Ordinance – Full and Part-Time Assistant Public Defenders had its first reading and was not voted on. 
• A resolution for the approval of transfers within the Conduct of Elections Budget exceeding ten percent was tabled unanimously by council. 
• A resolution approving an application to the PA Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for funding under the Statewide Local Share Account passed unanimously. 
• A possible sale of a parcel for Canal & Washington St. in Albion Borough from the Repository for Unsold Property passed unanimously. 
• A possible sale of a parcel at 86 Pineleaf Dr. in Greene Township from the Repository for the Unsold Property passed unanimously.