York County adopts FY2026 budget after amendments; council approves third reading 5–2

York County Council adopted the FY2026 budget on June 2 after a lengthy third‑reading session that included multiple last‑minute amendments and debates over staffing and one‑time funding.

Budget Director Trish Startups briefed the council on differences between second and third reading, saying, “All the approved second reading motions are reflected in the third reading of the FY26 budget ordinance,” and noting reappropriations for open purchase orders and a health insurance (PEBA) increase were added to the third‑reading ordinance.

Councilmembers then proposed and debated a number of amendments. Among them were: authority to fund a set of one‑time facility studies if staff could not do those studies in‑house; reallocation of a 0.2‑mill public‑safety adjustment that had been an unintended consequence of prior changes; a one‑time allocation to the Flint Hill Fire Tax District to use prior‑year fund balance for capital and building repairs; and a number of smaller reallocations to nonprofit partners and county programs.

Council also debated and then rejected (by 6–1) an amendment to restore three ongoing positions (capital budget analyst, events/marketing manager, and planner) that staff had proposed; the positions were discussed as part of the county strategic plan but council declined to add ongoing costs without a revenue source.

Other approved amendments included one‑time uses of fund balance to fund county camera/UPS replacement and a set of modest funding requests for nonprofits and local partners; council also approved a one‑time $50,000 appropriation to Visit York County (the county’s tourism organization) funded from reserves.

After multiple motions and votes, the budget ordinance — as amended — passed third reading by a 5–2 vote. The county manager and staff will now begin implementation and the program managers will report back on the funded one‑time studies and capital projects as requested by council.

Why it matters: The FY2026 budget sets county operating levels and capital priorities for the year that begins July 1. The adopted ordinance packages reappropriations for prior commitments, adjusts for benefits cost increases, and includes both one‑time studies and programmatic funding tied to the county strategic plan.

What to watch: Council directed staff to return with implementation details for the one‑time facility studies, capital projects funded from fund balance, and an accounting of nonprofit awards and associated outcomes.