READING, Pa. – The Berks County Commissioners used their weekly meeting on Thursday morning to each present their goals for 2026.

These presentations have become an annual tradition for the commissioners to identify their areas of focus in a public forum within the first several weeks of the new year.

The commissioner’s announced that the more detailed specifics of each their goals presentations will be posted on the county website.

Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach, board chairman

“I’m going to thank my colleagues,” Commissioner Christian Y. Leinbach, Board Chairman said. “We don’t always agree on issues, but that’s not what our job is about. Our job is about doing the right thing, treating people with respect and courtesy even when we disagree with them, and I can tell you all three of us do that.” 

The sections below outline Leinbach’s remarks in relation to each goal.

Fiscal Responsibility

“The number one goal for 2026 is fiscal responsibility and keeping the Moody’s (AAA) bond rating and working to make sure that there’s no tax increase for 2027. We’ve had the highest bond rating since March 2019 and we’re one of only five percent of counties in the country with that type of a rating.”

Reading Regional Airport

“I want to add at least one significant aviation tenant, build at least two new hangars that we didn’t do in 2025, but will hopefully get that done in 2026. Overall, a long term goal is to be the number one general aviation airport in Pennsylvania. A couple of years ago, (the state) Board of Aviation listed us as number twelve in overall economic impact; about $72 million impact on the region. And virtually almost every airport above us had commercial service, so we’re in a strong position.”

Passenger Rail

“There are two big items here: one, get into step two of the (Federal) Corridor ID program. I believe that that will happen, hopefully in the first quarter (of 2026) and then deal with what is a double edged sword. That is the plan for Union Pacific which has announced plans to acquire and purchase Norfolk Southern. That creates opportunity but it also creates risk and all three counties through the Schuylkill River Passenger Rail Authority are addressing and trying to tackle the opportunity side of that right now.”

County Management/ Succession Planning

“In the next five to ten years, Berks County is going to lose about 60% of our management and elected officials just based on statistical age. So, we want to focus on hiring the best possible department heads, deputies and staff because it’s the people – our employees- that make this county government run.”

Artificial Intelligence

“We are working on developing an AI policy and actively implementing AI tools here this year. I really want to see that implemented in a significant way in 2026. Developing AI strategies for all of our departments starts by implementing and enforcing an ethics-driven AI policy. This has to do with community engagement and making it easier for the community to engage with the right people and the right departments more easily.”

Berks Heim

“To establish the Berks Heim for the long term, we need to ensure the long-term fiscal health of Berks Heim under county ownership. The great news here is that we may be the only county (in the state) with a county nursing home operating in the black. We need to focus on long-term staffing stability. We have a stable staff right now for the first time in several years, we are not using a temp agency to fill daily positions.”

Commissioner Michael S. Rivera

“My priorities in 2026 are similar to what they were in 2025 and that is because I believe these are core priorities because they are not a once and done,” Rivera said. “They’re something that the county needs to work on year after year.” 

The sections below outline Rivera’s remarks in relation to each goal.

Fiscal Responsibility

“When you talk about fiscal responsibility, many times people think fiscal responsibility is keeping the line and not increasing taxes. For me that is not fiscal responsibility. Fiscal responsibility for me is being able to maintain the strong financial position for the county in the long run and that, at times, may mean having to have tax increases.”

“The goal again this year is to maintain the top bond rating of Moody’s AAA. Something I did do differently this year is that I separated savings and efficiency from fiscal responsibility, because savings and efficiency has been growing and evolving and it doesn’t just have to do with saving money. The Savings and efficiency focus is on a continuously improved mindset as to what can be done better. How can we cut down steps? How can we save money? How can we try to reduce errors in what we are doing.” 

Artificial Intelligence

“Embedding artificial intelligence into business operations in three key area: one is proper policies and guide rails; the second is training and education to make the most of it by offering departments best practices, and the third thing is to include other department heads at the meetings get their input.” 

Succession Planning

“The goal is to have all departments with deputies in 2026 and to provide training for these deputies to be able to run the department in case of an emergency vacation or other reason that the department head may not be there, and for them to be able then to possibly take over the department once the department head retires.” 

Election Integrity

“We want to continue developing our staff which will lead to the restoration and the continued voter confidence in the office of Election Services. The Election Services has done a great job, and they will continue to do that. We also continue to work with the County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania, the Governor and the General Assembly on much needed election reform. And we will continue to improve our processes on over-the-counter voting with established election preparation work, improved processes at polls on Election Day by updating and enhancing poll worker trainings, and we will continue to fine tune the mail in ballot processing.”

Commissioner Dante Santoni, Jr

“I think it is important for me to say that there are things that I think are important that the county needs to do, and then there are things that I would be happy to support, while they are focus is of my colleagues,” said Santoni.

The sections below outline Santoni’s remarks in relation to each goal.

Health Coalition and Advisory Committee

“My first priority is the Healthy Berks Coalition and advisory committee, and this is directly related to the study that was done before I was the commissioner. The board commissioned a report that was done by the Berks County Medical Society and Berks County Community Foundation to look at what the health needs are of our county. They came up with a number of recommendations and one of them was the Healthy Berks Committee, a coalition and advisory committee that’s going to establish clear and transparent goals with regards to the health needs of our community.”

FIFA World Cup

This will just be for 2026 and it will be a fun one. FIFA (Federation Internation Football Association) World Cup is coming to the Americas in 2026 with 11 sites in the US, a couple sites in Canada and three in Mexico. We’re not specifically a site, but there are three on the East Coast; one of them being Philadelphia.  We have been working with FIFA Philadelphia 2026 to try to coordinate some things working with our tourism group. There are going to be games in Philadelphia and when soccer games are played, there are a couple days in between, so we’re going to try to get some people to come visit us. We are in the running – and this hasn’t been officially announced yet- to be designated a fan zone. And what that means is we’ll be able to have parties and work in conjunction with FIFA Philadelphia and be recognized to provide official FIFA 2026 materials. Some may be wondering why a county commissioner is focusing on this. I think it’s an important economic development tool and I think we can benefit from having all these people coming from all over the world.”

Housing Crisis

“Homelessness is a is a real concern for many of us here, and I want to make that a focus of mine moving forward in 2026, specifically in the area of homeless veterans. The Berks Coalition to End Homelessness is having a strategic plan released next Thursday, so there’s going to be some details about homelessness in our community, but there’s a lot of other activities that are occurring at the federal and state level in a bipartisan manner. Housing and homelessness are quality of life issues that we need to address, and I want to make sure that local governments are engaged with our federal and state partners. 

ICE Detention Facility

“You might have heard about this facility that is going up in Upper Bern Township; the ICE facility. We had a raucous and exciting town hall meeting last night up in Bethel Township, which is very close to where the facility could be going in. And we the truth that we look forward to getting more information. That’s what we’re looking for: information transparency, working with our federal and state partners and getting as much information as we can. There’s a lot of unknowns about the effect that it’s going to have, not just on the Upper Bern Township, but overall the issue that affects Berks County.”