YORK COUNTY — York County officials have introduced a proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget that is said to prioritize education, public safety, and county employees, while outlining moderate spending increases and select fee adjustments.
The plan, presented Tuesday to the York County Board of Supervisors, totals approximately $308 million, an increase of about 5% compared with the current fiscal year, according to County Administrator Mark Bellamy. “The top priorities are schools, employees, public safety,” Bellamy said, noting those areas account for the largest portion of the county’s spending plan.
The proposal does not include a change to the real estate tax rate, which remains at 78 cents. However, officials noted that rising property assessments will still impact homeowners. Deputy County Administrator Susan Goodwin said reassessments increased property values by an average of about 9.4%, which is expected to result in an increase of roughly $28 per month for the average household.
To help offset costs, the budget recommends several targeted fee increases. These include raising the meals tax from 4% to 6% to align with surrounding localities, increasing the solid waste fee by $1 per month, and adding $3 to wastewater utility bills every two months. Officials described these adjustments as minimal.
The spending plan also includes investments in public safety and emergency response capabilities. Proposed upgrades feature expanded use of license plate readers, body cameras equipped with translation functions, and enhancements to the 911 system that would allow callers to stream live video to dispatchers.
Fire and emergency medical services would also see improvements, including the ability to administer whole blood in critical situations and the establishment of a county-operated pharmacy following changes in hospital medication supply practices.
Despite the added investments, officials said the budget reflects careful decision-making amid financial limitations. Approximately $4.6 million in requested funding was not included in the proposal, underscoring what leaders described as a need to prioritize essential services. “The increases that we have are really just to cover the needed things that we’re doing and the inflationary cost of everything,” Bellamy said.
County representatives characterized the proposal as a lean plan shaped largely by operational demands and inflationary pressures, rather than expanded programming.
Public engagement has been a key component of the budget process, with officials hosting a public hearing, distributing surveys, and planning two town hall meetings to gather additional feedback.
The proposed budget will remain under review until the Board of Supervisors takes action to adopt a final version. County leaders said the goal is to maintain a balance between fiscal responsibility and meeting the needs and expectations of residents.
Board of Supervisors meetings are on the first and third Tuesday of every month (with the exception of July and November) at York Hall. Residents are invited and encouraged to attend Board of Supervisors meetings as often as possible. Regular Meetings are also televised live on the cable channel YCG-TV and are rebroadcast at 11 a.m., 6 p.m., and 11 p.m. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday; 3 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
For more information, please visit the official website.
