by Jackie Nunnery
LANCASTER—The 2026-27 budget season came to an end as Lancaster supervisors on Thursday, May 28, adopted a $57 million county budget, 4-0, based on an increase in the real estate tax rate from $0.55 to $0.60 per $100 of assessed value.
With the increase in real estate tax, projected revenues will total $50,273,183, an increase of $5,297,103, or 11.78%, over the current budget. With a beginning fund balance of $6,729,346, funds available to the county will total $57,002,529.
Estimated expenditures total $51,408,170, an increase of $4,547,041 over the current budget and $1,134,987 more than expected revenues. The county would end the year with a projected balance of $5,594,359, which is 10.8% of expenditures and above the desired 7% minimum.
County administrator Don Gill said the budget increases include a 3% raise for all full-time county employees, coverage of a 7% health insurance premium increase, and hazardous duty supplement for emergency medical service employees. It also includes an additional $2 million annually for debt service….
