Lancaster County Newsletter
July County Council Update
Budget Approved • Tax Impact • EMS Support • Growth •
Lancaster County Council approved the Fiscal Year 2027 county budget in June. Below is a simple breakdown of what passed, what it means for taxpayers, and several important items coming up in July and August.
Budget at a Glance
Total County Budget: Approximately $202 million across all county funds
General Fund: Approximately $144 million
Final County Millage Increase:1 mill
Major Focus Areas: Public safety, EMS, fire service, county operations, and long-term infrastructure needs
The General Fund pays for many of the core services residents rely on, including the Sheriff’s Office, EMS, fire service support, courts, planning and zoning, parks and recreation, public works, administration, and other day-to-day county operations.
For the details check out the presentation and supporting documents - Click here
You can follow the entire discussion in the June 22nd meeting (starting roughly minute 42)- Click here
Approved County Budget
A major reason the budget appears much larger this year is the use of approximately $36.4 million from fund balance, which is the county’s savings account with a large portion going directly to support fire service in Lancaster County.
These dollars are being used for one-time needs, not normal recurring expenses. The funds will be used to purchase much-needed fire trucks and help fund a new Harrisburg fire station. The Harrisburg fire station is long overdue and will be critical in providing fire coverage at the top of the county.
Even after these expenditures, the "county’s savings account" remains very healthy at approximately 31% of the General Fund budget. The recommended range is 28% to 32%, so the county remains at the top end of the recommended reserve level.
Millage Impact to Residents
The county budget originally came forward with a proposed 1.5 mill increase. After additional review and discussion, Council approved an amendment that reduced the increase to 1 mill.
For an owner-occupied home, 1 mill equals about $4 per year for every $100,000 of market value. For example if your home's tax value is $300,000, the Lancaster County portion of your property tax will go up $12.
This is only the county portion of the tax bill. County Council does not set school district millage or municipal millage.
My Budget Focus
During the final budget discussion, I focused on line items where the proposed budget appeared significantly higher than recent actual spending or where more explanation was needed.
My goal was to make sure taxpayer dollars were being budgeted as accurately as possible and to reduce the tax impact.
EMS and Public Safety
One of the most important commitments in this budget is additional support for EMS.
The budget includes 15 EMS positions and supports a schedule change for some EMS staff from a 24-hours-on / 48-hours-off schedule to a 24-hours-on / 72-hours-off schedule beginning January 1, 2027.
This is a major operational change. The goal is to improve recruitment, retention, and long-term sustainability for EMS employees.
EMS is one of the most important services county government provides. As Lancaster County continues to grow, we have to make sure EMS has the staffing, schedule, and support needed to respond across the county.
Monday - July 20th Council meeting
Click here for the full agenda and packet.
Housing Moratorium Extension
The point of the 9 month housing moratorium in the northern part of Lancaster County was to finish writing the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) which guides all the rules related to development. The UDO is in the final stretch but not quite ready which is why it is important to extend the housing moratorium by 3 months to allow the UDO to be finished and adopted.
71-Acre Rezoning on Monday’s Agenda
Council is scheduled for the 2nd reading of the rezoning request near Highway 521 and Laurel Hill Road. This is the property located between Aldi and Parkstone, across from the Retreat housing development.
The request is to rezone the property from Low Density Residential to Regional Business.
If you would like to see the first reading discussion (starts roughly minute 44), click here. Vote was 5-2 with myself and Jose Luis opposing.
Check out the background material here.
Charter School Rezoning Request
Council is also scheduled to vote on a rezoning request on Highway 521 related to a potential charter school project.
The property is located at 9257 Charlotte Highway and includes approximately 43.61 acres.
The request is to rezone the property from Low Density Residential to Regional Business.
Click here for the background material.
Quick Notes
UDO Update
The draft Unified Development Ordinance, or UDO, is expected to be available the week of July 27 for staff and the public to begin reviewing.
Public meetings will be scheduled so citizens can give direct feedback. I plan to break down the major proposed changes in the August newsletter.
The purpose of the UDO is to set the rules related to residential and commercial development in the county.
Brian Tucker Started July 1
Brian Tucker officially began as Lancaster County Administrator on July 1.
His leadership will be important as the county focuses on economic development, infrastructure, public safety, and improving internal operations. Click here for more info.
Riverside Road / West Rebound Road and Highway 5
The Highway 5 intersection area at Riverside Road / West Rebound Road has had too many serious accidents and remains a major safety concern.
Look for a public meeting in August by SCDOT where residents can review options and give feedback on the desired intersection design. The SCDOT is considering a traffic light and roundabout at this intersection.
Google Fiber in Indian Land
Google Fiber installation has been underway in parts of Indian Land over the last year. As a utility provider, Google Fiber has the right to install infrastructure within public rights-of-way and public utility easements, just as other utility providers do. Residents are not required to switch providers, but additional broadband options can increase competition and choice. Lancaster County staff is working with the contractors performing the work to improve the communication of where the work is being done. Portions of Sun City will be affected.
Thank you to everyone who continues to reach out, ask questions, and stay engaged.
Lancaster County is facing major growth, infrastructure, and public safety challenges. Citizen involvement is critical as we make decisions that will shape the county for years to come.
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👥 If you're part of a group that would be interested in having me attend a meeting to discuss county matters, don’t hesitate to reach out—I’m always happy to connect.
If you have any questions or concerns about the county, feel free to reach out: 803-804-6017 or simply reply to this email.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support.
I’m grateful to serve the county I grew up in and love—and I’m always open to your questions, ideas, and concerns.
Best,
Stuart
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