Chester County Council approves first reading of FY2025–26 budget with no tax increase

Chester County Council on first reading approved the fiscal year 2025–26 budget ordinance (Ordinance 2025‑11), a $59,340,818 appropriation that county leaders said contains no county property tax increase.

The budget proposal, presented by County Administrator Brian Hester and Treasurer Tommy Darby, funds salary increases targeted at public safety workers, including a 7% raise for sheriff’s office staff, a 10% increase for detention officers and adjustments that would raise starting salaries for sheriff deputies to $56,325, detention officers to $52,734 and 911 operators to $51,880 (effective January 2026). The general fund portion of the appropriation is $36,767,609.

County leaders said the budget also creates or funds full‑time firefighting and EMS positions across the county: additions include three lieutenants for Great Falls, six county firefighters for the Lando fire district, two paramedics for Westchester to convert a 12‑hour EMS shift into a full‑time unit, and a planned 12‑hour EMS unit at Fort Blanton (Fort Long). The budget includes a fire training/inspector position meant to help departments maintain ISO records and support insurance rating improvements.

Hester and Darby described about $698,000 in net savings found across departments by consolidating positions, changing contract terms, and moving some operating costs to special funds. Examples cited include converting leased copiers to cost‑per‑copy contracts, moving economic development salaries to the fee‑in‑lieu economic development fund, folding the tax collector function into the treasurer’s office, potential detention food‑service contracting, and contracting tourism promotion through the county Chamber of Commerce.

Capital spending proposed in the ordinance totals about $2.2 million funded from bond proceeds, capital reserves and leftover bond balances. Items listed include 10 equipped sheriff vehicles, rural fire equipment, and two ambulances (one already ordered). The administration said it is also examining ways to incorporate recurring capital needs into the operating budget over time rather than relying solely on bonds.

Administrators stressed recruitment and retention were primary drivers of pay increases. Hester and Darby told council members that pay for key public safety positions had risen sharply in recent years; they said the county’s approach has improved recruitment for deputies, detention officers and dispatchers.

Council members asked about details including how Great Falls and other municipalities will receive services tied to county funding and whether EMS contracting had been investigated. Administrators said they had discussed service details with town officials and that contracting for EMS would require further study and a council directive to pursue it.

After discussion, a council member moved to approve first reading of Ordinance 2025‑11; the motion was seconded and the first reading passed by voice vote. The ordinance will return for subsequent readings before final adoption.

The county administration said full budget documents and organizational charts were provided to council members and that workshop discussions had shaped the proposal.