Lancaster County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lancaster County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Children and Youth placement costs surge
Commissioners renewed contracts with eight providers of specialized placements for kids in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems — and noted how hard it's become to find an open bed.
State Food Purchase Program funding for low-income residents
Nearly $758,000 in state money will fund the purchase, transport, storage, and distribution of food to low-income Lancaster County families, with Community Action Program (CAP) running the effort.
State Food Purchase Program funding for county food pantries
Community Action Partnership will keep running the State Food Purchase Program with a slightly larger $776,844 budget, helping offset rising food costs for pantries.
Behavioral health services funding increase
The board renewed a slate of contracts for mental health and disability services, including a $318,445 federal grant providing permanent supported housing for 20 people with serious mental illness.
Electricity costs rising
The county's next electricity contract could add more than $300,000 to annual utility costs, with a not-to-exceed rate of about 10.65 cents per kilowatt hour. The county is pooling buying power with Lehigh and Dauphin counties to soften the hit.
2027 County Budget Requests from Partner Agencies
Ten nonprofits and agencies pitched their 2027 funding requests, totaling well over $3.5 million combined. The commissioners will weigh these asks as they build next year's budget — decisions that shape library hours, farmland preservation, conservation work and downtown services.
Rising costs of IDD residential care providers
A renewed federal HUD grant will keep subsidized rent and support services in place for 12 county residents with serious mental illness. Funding rose nearly 10% this year to $190,023.
Library Funding Ballot Question
A library funding question goes before voters in November. A Christiana Borough council member supports libraries but worries the money could be better spent on local fire departments, and questions how reassessment might affect the millage rate.
County Caseworker Union Recognition
Children and Youth caseworkers and Youth Intervention Center staff asked the county to voluntarily recognize their union, Teamsters Local 771, citing high turnover, heavy workloads and burnout. The board took no immediate action.
Children and youth needs-based budget for 2027-2028
The county's child-serving agencies report 45-55 more kids in out-of-home care, driven by parental meth and fentanyl use and troubled adolescents. The budget requests more state and federal draw-down while projecting a decrease in the county match next year.
Property tax reform advocacy
A pastor argued property taxes mean no one truly owns their home, and Commissioner Parsons agreed it's a real problem, especially for seniors on fixed incomes. He pitched letting counties adopt a sales tax if they cut property taxes dollar-for-dollar.
State election funding decline
The county locked in a state grant agreement that could bring about $1.8 million to help pay for running the 2026 general election and 2027 municipal primary. It's 100% state money, so it doesn't change the county budget either way.
Human Services Block Grant Plan 2026-27
The county's developmental services agency is moving from serving a set number of people to managing a capped dollar allocation — about $142.6 million this year for 1,178 residents. Done well, officials say, it could actually let the county serve more people.
County Property Reassessment Appeals
Property owners will get notices of their new assessed values in June and have 40 days to appeal. Tax rates will be adjusted down so governments don't collect more overall, but roughly a third of taxpayers will see bills rise, a third fall, and a third stay flat depending on how their property fared relative to others.