York County adopts FY 2026 budget, raises real-estate tax rate; board approves CIP and related measures

The York County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved the county's fiscal year 2026 budget, adopted the 2025 tax levies and a five-year capital improvements program after a multi-month budget process that county staff said began in December.

County Administrator Mister Bellamy told the board the adopted FY26 spending plan totals roughly $291,000,000, excluding transfers, and described the package as the product of five months of public meetings that refined revenue estimates and budget priorities. Bellamy said the budget adds five sheriff's deputy positions, reduces sheriff overtime in lieu of those positions, removes a drone replacement, moves a permanent stage to the tourism fund, and shifts some school capital funding from the revenue stabilization fund into the school CIP. He also said staff has added a contingency for school funding but emailed the board this week saying that contingency may not be needed.

The board voted to raise the real-estate tax rate from $0.74 per $100 of assessed value to $0.78 per $100. Bellamy said there will also be an increase in solid-waste fees and new planning-and-development service fees; the transcript did not specify the new personal-property rate in full. Bellamy said the general fund budget drivers include employee compensation, increased school…