Lancaster County · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Lancaster County public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
Senior and Human Services Agreements
A batch of agreements keeps county services running: Office of Aging programs at Spooky Nook Sports, Meals on Wheels delivery in the Mount Joy area, Children and Youth and Juvenile Probation renewals, and a behavioral health MOU with the Lancaster/Lebanon LICC.
Senior services funding
County seniors get the 2027 Senior Games at Spooky Nook and slightly pricier Meals on Wheels deliveries — a quarter more per meal, paid from state grant funds.
Bulk fuel and fleet card contract
The county locked in three-year deals for bulk fuel delivery (with new fleet card services) and insurance brokerage services — the insurance deal costs $456,999, a 10.79% bump.
Magisterial District Court lease renewal at sharply higher rent
Rent is rising on six county-owned homes and farm rates are going up on five agricultural leases starting in 2027. Current tenants face increases from $50 to $195 a month on the residential side.
Expanded employee mental health benefit (EAP)
County employees and their households will get up to 12 free counseling sessions a year under a new EAP contract — and it costs the county $4,000 less per year than before.
AFSCME Labor Contract
A new three-year contract with the union representing county employees runs through 2028. A reporter raised questions about side letters tied to dropping an appeal of an arbitration decision.
Rising contract costs
Salt prices jumped nearly 14% and prison linens almost 47% — inflation keeps pushing up what the county pays for basics.
Hospital Authority term extension to 2075
The Hospital Authority issues tax-exempt bonds for hospitals and retirement communities. Extending its life to 2075 keeps it usable for 20-30 year bond deals. No cost to taxpayers; commissioners still appoint its board.
Repeal of East Cocalico LERTA tax abatement
The county repealed its LERTA tax break program for designated areas in East Cocalico Township after the township and school district dropped out. New tax abatements end, but existing exemptions continue.
County finances improve for 2025
The county ended 2025 $3.3 million in the black instead of a projected $5.4 million deficit — good news for the budget as the prison project looms.
Inmate phone rate reduction and lost county revenue
A new FCC ruling forces the county to cut inmate call rates from 15 to 12 cents a minute and bans commissions on regulated rates — costing the county about $250,000 a year, replaced by a one-time $325,000 payment.
Former employee's unemployment claim
Elizabeth Miller told commissioners she was denied about $1,300 in unemployment benefits after a layoff, saying HR gave her outdated and wrong information and never explained how to file. The board promised to look into it and connect her with the chief clerk.
Senior Farmers Market Nutrition Program
Low-income seniors 60+ can get $25 vouchers for fresh, locally grown produce — but demand outstrips supply, with 430+ people on the waiting list last year.
Polling place fee increase
Polling place locations will now receive $100 per election, matching what other counties pay — a small but meaningful bump for the venues that host voting.
County layoffs questioned by resident
A resident laid off in January's ten-person county workforce reduction publicly questioned the criteria used, saying she did the work of more than one person. Commissioners said it was a salary board personnel matter they couldn't discuss.
Health Account Administrator Switch Saves $50K/Year
The county plans to move HSA/HRA/FSA administration to HealthEquity, saving about $50,000 a year while adding 24-hour customer service and a mobile app for employees.
Custodial Services Contract Savings
The new custodial contract saves about $235,000 (37%) but trims services: no day porters, trash pickup in offices twice weekly instead of daily, weekly vacuuming, and no weekend coverage at the training center. Savings were already baked into the current budget.
Cash Rounding Policy Due to Penny Shortage
With pennies increasingly hard to obtain from banks, the county would round in-person cash transactions to the nearest nickel. Card, check, and electronic payments stay exact, and the accounting impact is considered negligible.
Rising IT licensing costs under Broadcom-VMware
The county is locking in a three-year VMware renewal after seeing increases of over 100% and then 33% in consecutive years. Alternatives would require new hardware, so the county chose to lock rates rather than switch.
Planning Review Fee Increase
Developers filing subdivision and land development plans will pay more for county review starting May 1 — the first increase in eleven years. Municipalities still get free reviews for their own planning initiatives.