Lancaster County council outlines no-millage first-reading budget, adds half-year staffing and public-safety investments

Lancaster County Council on a budget workshop agreed to present a balanced budget for first reading on May 27 that, as discussed, will not propose a millage increase but will include targeted adjustments and limited use of fund balance.

The council’s discussion centered on how to allocate roughly $8 million in projected new revenue and about $1.64 million of proposed additions requested by council members since the last meeting. Miss Harris, a county finance staff member, told the council the projection reflects top-line new revenue of “just over $8,000,000” and a total general fund near “just over $104,000,000.” She also walked the council through multiple position and policy options raised since the prior meeting.

Why this matters: Council members said they want to preserve fiscal health while responding to public-safety needs, staff pay compression, and service expansions. The council identified roughly $1,000,000 in available programming from new revenue and agreed to use fund balance for specific one-time items so the overall 2026 budget can be presented at first reading without a millage increase.

Most of the substantive changes the council agreed to were compromises intended to keep the budget balanced without raising…