York County sets 2026 real estate tax rate at 7.55 mills as commissioners adopt $751.3 million budget

Madam President of the York County Board of Commissioners announced the board adopted an omnibus motion that sets the countyreal estate tax rate for the 2026 budget year at 7.55 mills and advances a county budget the board listed at $751,300,000.

Mr. Dahl, presenting item 14, said the 7.55-mill rate equates to about $7.55 per $1,000 of assessed value and reflected a reduction from the preliminary proposal the board reviewed in November. He described the change as roughly a 9.4% increase over the 2025 millage rate of 6.9 mills and said the general fund is about $283.7 million.

The board majority framed the change as driven by three factors: rising costs for goods and services, the five-month state budget impasse, and inadequate state reimbursement for mandated human services. One commissioner summarized the impasseas costing the county "about $8,000,000 a month," and the chair said county officials used reserve funds to keep social services operating during that period, costing the county about $1,000,000 in lost interest that the county does not expect to recover from the state.

Members of the public questioned and urged caution about the size and timing of the increase. Tom Pokopec of Manchester Township asked, "If we got the money back and we're gonna have it next year, why do we have to raise taxes to support that?" Amy Milson of Manchester Township, who identified herself as president of the Central York School District board of directors, said tax increases are "better received in small doses" and urged the board to consider smaller, predictable annual increases instead of a single large adjustment.

Madam President credited county staff with achieving about $9 million in reductions that she said shrank the originally projected increase by roughly one-third. She said the board's decision prioritized keeping social-service programs open for vulnerable residents despite the budget pressures.

The tax rate and budget figures were adopted as part of a larger omnibus motion to approve items 1 through 42 on the agenda. The record shows the omnibus motion passed by voice vote; one commissioner stated they would abstain on a separate appointment-related motion contained in the omnibus package.