Lancaster County adopts levy allocation despite commissioner dissent over $1.5M solar allocation

Lancaster County commissioners on Aug. 25 approved a resolution allocating levy authority for the coming year, adopting a comparable levy of approximately 12.5 cents compared with about 13.3 cents last year.

Dennis Meyer, the county Budget and Fiscal Officer, told the Board the totals remain below the 15-cent limit even when bond levies are included and said bonds for joint public agencies are expected to be paid off in roughly three years. Meyer also noted the Agricultural Society’s capital levy contribution includes $1.5 million proposed for a solar energy project for the event center.

Commissioner Matt Schulte said he would vote against the resolution because he opposed “the arbitrary allocation of $1.5 million to the event center solar project,” saying the county lacked a clear understanding of the project’s final scope, financial return, and payout. Commissioner Rick Vest and others defended prior discussion of the project and urged transparent operation. The resolution passed 4-1 (Flowerday, Vest, Johnson and Yoakum yes; Schulte no).

The Board’s action sets levy allocations for political subdivisions subject to Lancaster County’s authority; Meyer indicated the figures incorporate bond levies that otherwise might be excluded and that the joint bonds likely have only two remaining levy years before final payment.