Council approves $53,214 for EMS oxygen and $75,000 for coroner services

Lancaster County Council on March 9 approved a two-part budget amendment to the FY2026 ordinance that moves funds to cover urgent operational needs in public safety.

Finance staff outlined the requests: $53,214 to increase the medical supplies account so Lancaster EMS can acquire additional oxygen for transport units; and $75,000 to cover outstanding invoices for coroner professional services, including toxicology and autopsy costs, so those accounts will not slip into the red.

"The request is $53,214, to the increase" of the EMS medical supplies line, staff said. Regarding the coroner, staff reported that the county coroner contacted the interim county administrator about outstanding invoices and that the $75,000 transfer would pay those invoices and prevent a negative balance.

Staff recommended the transfers and council approved the budget amendment by unanimous vote. Councilmembers also noted a reorganizational chart included in the packet and discussed that departmental structure changes were intended to improve operational flow.

What happens next: staff will execute the transfers and process the purchases and invoices; the county will monitor the affected accounts and return to council if further action is necessary.