York County explores various budget options, tax increases

With little more than a month to go before York County will need to have a new budget in place, the County Council could soon have three budgets to choose from.

The possibility was floated by York County Manager Bill Shanahan in response to uneasiness from council members about a potential tax increase to fund the the 2016-17 budget.

One budget proposal would leave the $538.6 million budget as is, with a tax increase equivalent to an $18 hike on an owner-occupied home valued at $100,000. Another proposal would eliminate $1.7 million from the county’s plans, which would leave the same home with an increase of $12.40. A third option would still drop the tax increase but make up some of the funding difference from the county’s $48 million fund balance.

“We can just plug in what happens if we don’t raise the millage rate, and see what the results will be,” Shanahan told a budget hearing Wednesday.

Without a change, budget projections would leave the county with around a $3 million shortfall, though Shanahan said he’s hopeful some funds could be saved by leaving some staff vacancies open or putting off purchases.

“If you’ve got a dump truck that’s 12 years old, you might budget $60,000 to replace it, but then you keep the truck up to the point it can stay on the road for another year,” Shanahan said.

Councilman Michael Johnson argued county departments should not be running surpluses by asking for more money then they ultimately spend.

“We seem to have a problem in how we do projections,” Johnson said.

But Councilman Chad Williams said departments shouldn’t be punished for managing their money prudently.

“We’ve got a lot of folks who work hard not to spend it,” Williams said.

Whatever proposed budget the county ultimately adopts, property owners still will see a larger tax bill than before, thanks to a bond proposal York County voters approved last year.

A large portion of the budget is set aside for funding a total of $109 million in bonds for new construction projects voters approved last November, plus funding for the new county administration building. The proposed budget includes $9.4 million in debt service on the new projects, plus $113 million in construction costs, which will be spent over the next several years.

That still requires a $12.40 increase on a $100,000 house. Commercial properties will see a bigger increase, with a property valued at $500,000 owing an extra $93 on next year’s tax bill, down from $135 if the other projects are included.

“We can’t cut the referendum,” said Councilman Robert Winkler. “The voters raised their own taxes in the referendum.”

Among the “red-lined” items in the budget that could be on the chopping block: a $1 million land acquisition for a Fort Mill convenience center; $500,000 for a utility study in western York County; $100,000 for refurbishing the emergency management mobile command unit; a $50,000 cut to recycling operations; and $30,000 for an animal control truck.

This story was originally published May 25, 2016 at 9:34 PM with the headline "York County explores various budget options, tax increases."