York County supervisors narrow FY budget items, set May 6 adoption and reserve funds for schools

York County supervisors indicated general agreement on the main elements of the proposed fiscal year budget at a work session on April 17, and instructed staff to hold contingency funding for school operating needs pending the state budget outcome while scheduling a formal vote to adopt the budget on May 6.

The board and staff said they were aligned on the capital improvements plan and on county employee compensation of 4% plus $500, new waste (trash and recycling) rates, a personal property tax rate of $4 per $100 of assessed value and a real estate tax rate of $0.78 per $100 of assessed value. The board set May 6 at 6 p.m. as the meeting to adopt the budget; the supervisors also consented to cancel the April 22 meeting.

Why it matters: the work session narrowed outstanding issues ahead of the adoption vote and identified contingency options for an unresolved school funding question at the state level. If the commonwealth does not provide the additional education funding York County expects, supervisors directed staff to identify and reserve local funds to bridge a potential gap so the school division can maintain competitive teacher pay.

School funding and contingency. The proposed county budget includes a $1,000,000 increase in the county’s contribution to school operations over last year. Staff and board members said the General Assembly’s original proposal would close the schools’ gap but the governor’s version sent…