Centre Region managers talk zoning rewrites, budget gaps & more. 5 forum takeaways
Municipal managers from five Centre Region communities gathered last week at Toftrees Golf Resort to brief the local business community on 2026 priorities. The updates covered everything from a casino opening to short-term rental rules to correcting structural budget deficits.
FULL STORY: New projects, policies and more: Centre Region managers update business community
Patton Township Manager Amy Farkas, College Township Manager Adam Brumbaugh, Ferguson Township interim manager Tom King, Harris Township Manager Mark Boeckel and State College Borough Manager Tom Fountaine all spoke during the Chamber of Business and Industry of Centre County’s Centre Region Municipal Managers Update forum.
Here are the highlights:
Emphasis on zoning and code updates: Several Centre Region municipalities are prioritizing significant zoning rewrites and code updates in 2026, aiming to modernize local ordinances, encourage mixed-use developments and address current community needs. State College Borough’s zoning overhaul, for example, has been in the works for years and is expected to be completed this spring.
Short-term rental (STR) regulations advance: Patton and Harris townships completed and implemented new STR ordinances in 2025, including permit requirements, occupancy limits, parking mandates, nuisance point systems and more. Both plan further regulatory reviews and potential rule expansions in 2026.
Many development projects underway: College Township is preparing for the April 2026 opening of the Happy Valley Casino, projected to bring substantial jobs, tax revenue and additional funding for local projects. Multiple municipalities are also starting or continuing notable construction and redevelopment projects.
Fiscal and organizational stability as priorities: Ferguson Township and State College Borough are focused on addressing ongoing structural budget imbalances and improving financial health. State College plans to explore possible changes in service levels, revenue opportunities and fee structure changes, Fountaine said. Ferguson Township will also focus on decreasing costs and increasing revenues in 2026, according to King.
Infrastructure and public safety initiatives: Farkas, of Patton Township, discussed efforts to enhance safety on Atherton Street, including the township’s recent inclusion in a statewide study on automated speed enforcement. Other municipalities are planning infrastructure upgrades: sidewalk networks, pedestrian crossings, ADA-accessible amenities and expanded community facilities.
The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the CDT newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by CDT journalists.