Lancaster County presents $295.3M budget; board adopts levy-allocation resolution

Lancaster County budget and fiscal officer Dennis Meyer told the Board of Commissioners on Aug. 25 that the county's proposed FY2026–27 budget totals about $295,300,000, a 6.02% increase driven largely by personnel and insurance costs.

Meyer said taxable valuation increased 5.58% this year and explained allowable-growth and property-tax-request calculations used to avoid the state “pink postcard” public-notice threshold. He told commissioners the budget includes a $4.7 million rise in salaries and benefits, a $970,000 increase in election costs and a $2.5 million rise in transfers. “Our number one goal going into that process was to not attend that pink postcard meeting,” Meyer said.

The board voted to adopt a resolution finalizing the county’s allocation of levy authority so political subdivisions may complete their budget work. The resolution keeps Lancaster County’s levy below the 15¢ statutory limit; Meyer said the county levy will decrease by about 1.5–1.88% depending on final calculations.

Commissioners and staff discussed the allocation of $1,500,000 in a capital levy for solar panels at the event center. One commissioner said the assignment of $1.5 million felt arbitrary and raised concerns about transparency, noting the county is still conducting a study of the expected payout and return on investment. Other commissioners said the project had been vetted and that including the solar project still allowed the levy to remain under the statutory cap. That item was part of the levy-allocation resolution the board approved.

A public commenter later asked for clearer, taxpayer-friendly budget materials and raised questions about an alleged plan to create a county HR department and transfers to nonprofits; the board and staff said they would follow up with additional detail.

The board expects to finalize and adopt the budget at the next scheduled meeting.