Lancaster County officials outline $33.6 million in new budget requests; council weighs minimum-wage, ERP and grants coordinator

Lancaster County Council heard the first half of the county’s FY2026 budget workshop, where department heads presented personnel and operating requests that together totaled roughly $33.6 million above current-year spending.

The presentations and council discussion focused on three immediate choices: whether to raise the county minimum wage, how to handle a possible across‑the‑board salary adjustment and whether to fund a countywide ERP (enterprise resource planning) replacement and central grant coordination. Sabrina Harris, the county chief financial officer, told councilors the full set of departmental requests — including positions and nonrecurring capital — add up to about $33.6 million beyond the current adopted budget.

Why it matters: councilors must prioritize those requests against available revenue and fund balances. The county faces recurring cost pressures (health insurance, inflation-driven vendor increases), one‑time capital asks such as facility work and software implementation, and continuing service needs in public safety, inspections and other areas.

Most of the cost pressure presented at the workshop came from personnel requests and recurring operating increases. Harris summarized the drivers as (1) market pressure on salaries, (2) demand for more public safety staff and detention‑center medical coverage, and (3) software and technology realignments. She noted an early administration package will be brought forward after the remaining department presentations next week.

Council members spent significant time on wages. Staff presented three simple minimum‑wage scenarios: moving all full‑time county employees now below $15 an hour up to $15; moving a larger group up to $18; or maintaining current ranges and using targeted career‑ladder adjustments. The fiscal impact depends on whether council wants to address “wage compression” — the cascade of raises required when a lower minimum forces pay adjustments for employees already near the new floor.

Councilors also discussed a recommended fiscal option to add a dedicated grants coordinator. Finance staff said Lancaster currently manages roughly 48 active grants totaling about $45 million and that missed indirect‑cost recovery on roughly 10 grants could represent an opportunity of several hundred thousand dollars to more than a few million dollars if pursued strategically.

No formal budget decisions were taken at the workshop. The county administrator will present a recommended budget in early May; council will hold further public workshops, hearings and the formal readings required for adoption.

Looking ahead: council asked staff to return with clearer revenue projections, fund‑balance estimates by fund and more granular cost/benefit detail on the ERP proposal and on any minimum‑wage scenarios before any formal action.