Overview

Berks County administers local government services for residents of Berks County, Pennsylvania, from election administration and public safety to support for children and older adults. Its departments operate the county jail, maintain parks and county facilities, and coordinate services through agencies such as the Area Agency on Aging. A board of elected commissioners directs county administration, approves the annual budget and sets county tax rates, while departments manage programs within that public budget. The county was created in 1752 from parts of Philadelphia, Chester and Lancaster counties and has its headquarters in Reading, Pennsylvania.