CARLISLE - A split Cumberland County board of commissioners on Wednesday voted 2-1 to give tentative approval to a $126.7 million general fund budget for 2026/

The budget, as proposed, holds the line on county property taxes after two straight years of increases.

The budget does show an on-paper deficit of $16.8 million.

But commissioners Kelly Neiderer and Jean Foschi, who supported the plan, said that’s an inflated number due to budgeted-but-unfilled positions and other contingencies.

Neiderer said the actual operating deficit will likely come in closer to $6 million.

That, she said, can be covered with prudent management, potential grant income that’s not baked into the proposed budget, and draw-downs from a budgetary reserve built up with the help of federal pandemic relief funds.

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