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York County adopts 2024–25 budget, sets property tax request after public hearing
Summary
After a public hearing Sept. 17, the York County Board of Commissioners adopted the 2024–25 appropriations budget and approved a property tax request after commissioners said higher property valuations and one-time interest income allowed a modest reduction in the levy.
The York County Board of Commissioners adopted its 2024–25 appropriations budget and set the county's property tax request during a Sept. 17 meeting in the Commissioners' Boardroom.
At a public hearing opened at 8:32 a.m., the chair said the county's cash reserve rose to $1,250,000 and that interest income from staggered certificates of deposit produced roughly $700,000 this fiscal year, helping to offset expenditures and permitting a lower levy. The chair said this year's operating budget appears in the materials as about $31,145,000 and noted last year's property-tax request was $8.6 million while this year's request was shown as $8.3 million (a 3% drop). He also said overall property valuations increased from about $3.7 billion to $3.9 billion, which reduced the effective tax rate from about 0.23 to 0.21.
Why it matters: the board's action finalizes spending authority for county services, sets the formal property-tax request the county will submit under state law, and signals how one-time interest earnings and valuation growth are affecting short-term levy calculations.
Commissioners and staff cautioned the board that the interest-driven boost is likely temporary. "That interest income is gonna go away, and then these 3 percents are gonna start compiling back on us," the chair said during the hearing, urging multi-year planning for reserves and payroll obligations. Commissioners noted payroll runs roughly every two weeks and that maintaining an adequate cash reserve is necessary.
The board adopted the appropriations resolution that lists the general fund at $7,176,414, a debt-service allocation of $805,000 and an ambulance fund of $353,298. Following discussion, a separate resolution setting the county's property tax request (the total tax ask noted in meeting materials as about $8.1 million) was approved by roll call vote.
Public comment was brief; residents who spoke during the budget hearing thanked the board for strengthening reserves and urged continued support for law enforcement and children's services.
The board recessed to address other business and noted it will reconvene for board equalization later the same day.
Votes at a glance: the board voted to adopt the 2024–25 appropriations resolution and to adopt the resolution setting the property tax request (both approved by roll call at the Sept. 17 meeting).
