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.