Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Chester County presents FY2026–27 budget plan with COLA increases, new positions and solid‑waste fee changes
Summary
County officials outlined a proposed FY2026–27 budget that includes a January 2026 catch‑up COLA ($925,000), a proposed 3% COLA in Jan. 2027 ($319,000), several mid‑year positions ($217,000), health insurance increases, solid‑waste fee hikes and $2.48 million in capital recommendations; no millage increase was included.
Chester County officials presented their recommended fiscal year 2026–27 budget at a workshop on April 9, 2026, in Chester. Treasurer Tommy Darby and County Administrator Brian Hester summarized changes to the General Fund, other fund recommendations and capital priorities during the roughly 75‑minute meeting.
Darby said the General Fund budget incorporates a January 2026 cost‑of‑living adjustment “catch up” of $925,000 that follows earlier adjustments, and proposes a 3% COLA effective January 2027 estimated to cost $319,000. He also identified projected health insurance cost increases of $320,000 and $25,000 for board and commissions revision work. The presentation included personnel changes: the county will add four sheriff deputies funded through a COPS grant (estimated at $205,000), fund position reclassifications and adjustments ($137,000) and budget for several mid‑year hires totaling $217,000 (an appraiser; two 911 dispatchers; a mechanic; a paralegal; an…
Already have an account? Log in
Subscribe to keep reading
Unlock the rest of this article — and every article on Citizen Portal.
- Unlimited articles
- AI-powered breakdowns of topics, speakers, decisions, and budgets
- Instant alerts when your location has a new meeting
- Follow topics and more locations
- 1,000 AI Insights / month, plus AI Chat