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.
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.
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.
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.
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.