York County adopts FY2025 budget, trims CIP and lowers personal property tax

The York County Board of Supervisors approved the countyand school division budgets for fiscal year 2025 at a May 7 work session, voting to lower the personal property tax rate by 10 cents and to revise several capital projects and fee policies.

County staff presented a budget package that included a 10¢ reduction in the personal property tax rate (to $3.80), elimination of the vehicle license fee, a projected $400,000 reduction in real-estate revenue tied to equalization, a $160,000 reduction in the countyschool contribution and the removal of $870,000 in projects from next years Capital Improvement Program (CIP), including a kayak launch at New Quarter Park and batting cages at McReynolds Athletic Complex. Staff advised the board that the changes were intended to reduce the tax burden while maintaining essential services.

"We are delivering the best budget that we can at this time to meet our citizens' needs," the chair said, thanking staff and supervisors for negotiating the package and noting the boards goal of minimizing the tax impact while keeping the county fiscally sound. The chair also said the board plans to schedule additional advertised work sessions earlier in the cycle next year to increase public transparency.

Not all supervisors agreed with the process. One supervisor criticized how some adjustments were made outside public meetings, saying, "This has turned out to be more political than has been in the best interest of the citizens," and calling for greater transparency in future budget work. Other supervisors countered that extensive meetings and staff work supported the package, and that the board had struck a difficult balance between tax relief and preserving services.

Board members asked staff for follow-up analyses on several items, including the longer-term fiscal impact of delaying particular CIP purchases and the effect of the tax changes on revenue projections. The board also discussed proposals to study senior tax-relief options and to seek greater public engagement before next years budget decisions.

Votes at a glance: R24-86 (adopt FY2025 budget and appropriate funds) Adopted on roll call; motion carried. The board also approved related actions to set the tax rate changes, amend solid-waste fees and adopt the FY20252030 CIP as a planning document (see list below).

Whats next: Supervisors directed staff to provide more detailed cost-comparison information on selected CIP changes and to schedule additional work sessions that will be advertised and open to the public before the next budget cycle.

Votes and related actions mentioned in the meeting: R24-86 (FY2025 budget adoption) Adopted; tax-rate resolution/ordinance to implement the 10¢ personal property tax reduction Adopted; amendment to Chapter 19 (solid-waste & recycling fees) Adopted; R24-87 (FY20252030 CIP as long-range planning document) Adopted; R24-88 (designation of portion of real-property tax for school purposes) Adopted.

The board moved on to other business and ended the session by confirming the next regular meeting at 6 p.m. on May 21.