The Adams County Commissioners have approved a draft 2025 budget with an eye to final approval at their meeting on Dec. 9.
The budget proposes a 15.8 percent tax increase, with the millage increasing from 4.4393 to 5.1393. The tax increase would be about $150 annually for the owner of an average property assessed at $217,300.
The increase in expenditures will also be paid for in part through the use of existing fund balances.
The $94.1 million proposed 2025 budget is up 6.4 percent from the $88.4 million 2024 budget,
The courts and prison system (county jail) are again the biggest expenditures, together making up 25 percent of the budget.
The county will also spend $15 million in direct (non-tax-based) revenue for 911 Telecommunications, Children & Youth Services, and Hazardous Materials.
The proposed $2.9 million capital budget would be funded through bond proceeds and general fund contributions.
The county has 651 budgeted positions, and the primary revenue source is taxes.
“An overwhelming and undeniable dynamic of this budget is the recent extraordinary impact of increased cost of goods, services, wages, and benefits.” said Commissioner Randy Phiel in a statement.
The county reminded taxpayers that in addition to county taxes, residents must also pay school taxes and potentially a municipal tax as well.
The county says the budget was based on public input, departmental evaluations, and zero-based budgeting principles.
The county says its goals are “efficient governance,” including minimizing property taxes and criminal justice reforms.
The budgets can be viewed on the county website, or by visiting the commissioners’ office on the second floor of the courthouse during business hours.
Proposed 2025 Line-Item Expenditures
Fund/Department Amount Prison $14,354,229 Courts Consolidated $8,794,407 Commissioners $7,503,754 Transfers $4,298,029 Community Grants Project – ARRF $3,800,000 Broadband Project – ARRF $2,700,000 Building/Maintenance $2,325,644 Information Technology (IT) $2,020,865 Sheriff $1,656,760 District Attorney $1,599,447 Planning $1,474,248 Controller $898,698 Public Defender $827,449 Central Processing $662,579 Security $660,313 Human Resources $658,848 Budget & Purchasing $589,780 Solicitor $579,741 Conservation District $421,982 Elections/Voter Registration $389,564 Emergency Services $344,667 Victim Witness $308,368 Coroner $286,311 Veterans’ Affairs $267,221 Prothonotary $215,062 County Complex $207,397 Protective Inspections $105,742
Charles (Chuck) Stangor is Gettysburg Connection's Owner, Publisher, and Editor in Chief. I would like to hear from you. Please contact me at cstangor@gettysburgconnection.org.
23 million for prison and court combined, far, far more than many other things. That says a lot about the sad state of humankind.
Can’t say I want criminals, esp violent ones and thieves, on the street either. I just wish there were far fewer of them and more who lived by the Golden Rule.
Now that I think more about it, perhaps it’s time the three commissioners step down and allow new conservative leadership to step up. Leadership that is respectful of their constituents’ property and the money that they earn. Leadership that is more interested in finding creative ways to reduce taxes and spending, and taking less time posing for photographs and seeking publicity.
In skimming through the whole budget, I notice too the intent to hire a translator for the courts. Seems like if there are enough cases that require translation, there are probably enough available folks who can speak the non-English language, and they can be hired as needed. Perhaps also a few subscriptions to Babbel (or similar service) could be purchased. That learning could count toward continuing education as well and cost significantly less than a salary and benefits for a full time employee.
I’d be happy to see the county cut taxes by 5% every year, and de-fund programs until the citizens turn out and loudly demand that more money get taken from them. We rapidly find a happy medium that way.
We could save $3,800,000 by dropping the Community Grants Project. The generous folks who support the beneficiaries of that grant program can donate directly. No need to involve the county government.
To clarify – the ARRF grant funds are courtesy of the federal government’s COVID funding, and the expenditures must meet the federal government’s program guidelines. Therefore, the county is not using your county taxpayer dollars to support these grants.
Amazing how government offices can increase taxes at will, without public input. If private industry has a shortfall of cash, they lay people off or find ways to trim the budget through operational expenses. But not good old Adams County. They, like all government offices will increase the budget, thereby increasing taxes. As Republican as the county is, and Republicans support smaller government and increases efficiency within the government, don’t we think that taxes should be going down, not up, and UP by 16%? While the impact of this increase may only be $10+ dollars a month, for most of… Read more »
I’d be happy to see them CUT taxes by 5% every year, and actually reducing the funding to the various departments until the citizens of the county demand loudly that they want more money taken from them to fund everything. We’d very quickly arrive at an acceptable medium. …and I’d be willing to bet it would be dramatically LESS spending than more.
I understand and share your concern; however, haven’t you seen EVERYTHING in everyday life increase exponentially in cost over the last four years? The same is true for the county. They have held the line with taxes as long as possible but can no longer do it without additional funding.
Wow. 16% County, 9 % Borough. Sounds a little extreme