Lancaster County council approves first reading of FY2026 budget with no millage increase; adds 42 positions

Lancaster County Council voted unanimously to approve the first reading of the ordinance adopting the county’s fiscal year 2026 budget, a measure county staff presented as carrying “no millage increase” while expanding staff pay and headcount.

The budget package presented to council includes a 5% across-the-board pay increase for full-time and part-time staff, an increase in the county minimum wage to $15 per hour with adjustments to address compression, and pay adjustments affecting 27 existing positions. The proposed budget also adds 42 new positions, which county staff said would cost “just over $3.5 million” when salaries, benefits and non-personnel startup costs are included. Position adjustment line items were reported as an increase of $951,999 to address minimum pay and compression at lower pay grades.

Budget staff told council the budget relies on projected new revenue of just over $8,000,000 from the county’s major revenue sources. With council’s requested changes since the administrator’s recommended budget, staff said $630,001.55 in additional council-directed adjustments are included and that $434,713 would remain unprogrammed and available to appropriate.

Key personnel changes cited in the presentation include a half-year funding plan for new EMS staffing (an equipment officer, three EMTs and three paramedics), upgrades and career-ladder adjustments in fire rescue, a career-ladder adjustment in the coroner’s office for six staff, and 12 part-time positions for solid waste operations. Staff also reported changes to external agency contracts (for example, a county contribution to a Kershaw fire-services agreement) and new one-time items recommended from unassigned fund balance, including postage for reassessment notices and additional sheriff’s department “Flock” camera purchases.

Budget director Miss Provoznak presented fund-level details, saying the county’s certified taxable value used in the rollback calculation rose and that the recommended millage after the rollback would be lower than the current year. She noted the auditor certified the millage base that produced the proposed millage schedule.

During council discussion, Council Member Luis said he was “a little concerned” about relying on optimistic revenue projections and warned that next year’s budget could be tighter. Several council members pressed for clearer commitments on how the county will manage ongoing wage-compression issues and asked staff to return by third reading with more detailed options on floating-holiday mechanics and safeguards so that under-staffed employees are not disadvantaged.

Members also asked for a formal procurement plan and independent P-Card audit language; staff told council the external P-Card audit would be performed by an outside firm and that council would select or approve the auditor. Staff said additional items with outstanding funding decisions — including Burns Building renovation, a coroner’s expansion and EMS station buildouts — will return for later council consideration.

Council approved first reading by unanimous vote. The ordinance will return for two additional readings as required by county procedure.