Chester County Council approves budget ordinance with no tax increase; adds public safety staff and pay adjustments

Chester County Council approved the reading of Ordinance 2025-11, the county's fiscal year 2025'26 operating and capital budget, after staff highlighted changes carried forward from the previous year and personnel and service investments.

County budget staff told the council there will be no tax increase for the coming year and that the general fund balance is projected to be $36,996,518. The presentation noted the county's fund-balance policy sets a target of 50 percent of the general fund and that capital reserves are projected to increase to about $4.8 million in 2026.

"There is no tax increase for the year," said the county presenter during the reading. The budget includes continued implementation of a multi-year pay study and reclassification process intended to improve recruitment and retention. The plan as presented includes a 7% increase for sheriff's deputies, a 9% increase for 9-1-1 dispatchers and a 10% increase for detention deputies. Nonpublic-safety employees would receive a 4% cost-of-living increase in January 2026, with certain exempt positions adjusted in July 2025.

The budget also adds specific public-safety positions: three new lieutenant positions for the Great Falls Fire Department beginning in January 2026 (described as bringing staffing to three full-time personnel on every shift, not counting a daytime captain), a training officer/fire inspector for county fire, six full-time firefighters for the Lando Fire District to provide continuous coverage, two full-time paramedics for the western portion of the county to support 24/7 coverage at the Westchester station when its completion is projected in the first quarter of 2026, and additional 12-hour EMS coverage for the Fort Lawn community beginning January 2026 housed at the Fort Lawn fire station in partnership with the Fort Lawn Fire District.

Staff also reported a set-aside for encumbrances (purchase orders for goods or services that will not be received before June 30) that will be carried forward and funded from fund balance. The presenter listed several encumbrances by department: a firearms order for the sheriff's office ($51,000), an airport lighting project ($70,000), uniforms for animal control and a small medical supply order for EMS, and government complex improvements (about $38,000). The presenter said the encumbrance line totals were included in the ordinance reading.

The county described insurance-premium adjustments: the workers'compensation premium decreased (the presenter cited an experience modifier of 0.85) and the property and liability premium increased; the net change between those premiums was given as $66,008.36. The presenter said savings of approximately $700,000 were found in current operations, allowing some new investments without raising taxes.

Councilmembers asked clarifying questions about service delivery in towns that have not finalized their own budgets and about supervision of county employees assigned to work in cooperation with volunteer or town fire organizations. Staff said memoranda of understanding or agreements authorize service within town limits and that county employees would report through county supervisors under those partnerships.

Council approved the reading of the ordinance by voice vote. The presenter thanked staff and council members involved in preparing the budget.

The ordinance reading and related budget documents were presented for final action at the meeting; additional steps for final adoption (if any) were not specified in the reading presented at this meeting.