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Midyear report: Lancaster City sees real estate tax intake near budget and earned income tax trending up
Summary
At midyear the city reported combined general fund revenue at about 56% of budget; as of June 30 the city had collected $30,178,987 in real estate taxes (about 89% of budget) and $5,503,937 in earned income tax (31% of budget). Staff said building-code expenses had been high due to contracted services later brought in-house.
Acting director Amanda Begay updated council on the city's operating budget through June 30, covering 50% of the fiscal year and providing a midyear gauge of revenues and expenses.
Begay reported that combined revenue through June stood at about 56% of the annual budget, slightly above the 50% benchmark for this point in the year. She said the city had collected $30,178,987 in real estate taxes (about 89% of the annual budget line) and $5,503,937 in earned income tax (31% of its budgeted amount). Begay noted pilot payments from tax-exempt property owners were at 55% of the annual budgeted amount, up from 29% at the same point last year.
Begay cautioned that some lines exceed the 50% pacing due to timing of payments and encumbrances; building-code expenses were elevated early in the year because plan review and inspection were contracted out during a staffing shortage and have since been brought back in-house. Staff said debt payments and bond schedules will affect later quarters and that enterprise funds (water, sewer, solid waste and stormwater) are being tracked separately, with water remaining a focus for the 2027 budget cycle.
Councilors asked for follow-up on particular line items (for example, building-permit revenue and street-administration encumbrances) and staff said they would provide additional detail as part of forthcoming budget hearings.
