During a special Tuesday evening meeting to discuss the proposed 2010 County Budget, the Commissioners voted unanimously to set the salary increase for all County elected officials at 0% for the coming year. This group includes the Commissioners themselves, the County Controller, Recorder of Deeds, Jury Commissioners, Sheriff, Register of Wills, Prothonotary, Clerks of Courts, Treasurer, and Coroner. With minimal self-congratulation, the Commissioners and staff elaborated the rest of the proposed budget, which would hold off any tax increase while cutting 19 County jobs.

County Administrator Charlie Douts explained that total County revenues are projected to increase by 4.1% in comparison to 2009 (from $138.4 million to $144.2 million); meanwhile, Douts said, County expenditures will rise by 0.7%.

To increase savings, Douts said, the County has not budgeted any funds for green infrastructure or for transportation related grants—the reason for the latter being that Federal stimulus funds will be available to support such projects.

James Laughman, Executive Director of the Mental Health/Mental Retardation/Early Intervention (MH/MR/EI) Program, presented an extended report on the accomplishments and challenges of the County’s many Human Services.

On a positive note, Laughman explained how the County’s Children and Youth program has reduced out-of-home foster care placements (from 674 in 2008 to 620 in 2009) in an effort to simultaneously minimize expenses, keep families together, and maintain the safety of children. Furthermore, Laughman reported that the County’s Veterans Affairs office has assisted veterans in obtaining 1.67 million benefit awards in 2009. This puts Lancaster County at #2 statewide for the number of awards received, higher even than Philadelphia County. The #1 County (Berks, with 1.76 million awards) happens to employ a Veterans Affairs staff almost three times the size of Lancaster’s.

Laughman noted that the County is unduly strapped with regard to Mental Health and Drug & Alcohol funding. For Mental Health, Laughman noted, Lancaster receives the third lowest level of per capita funding in Pennsylvania—despite being the fifth most populous county. Drug & Alcohol funding, Laughman added, has steadily dropped in the last decade, while demand has continued to rise: “As the economy gets more challenging…, do requests for D&A services go up, or go down, or stay the same? Of course they go up,” Laughman asserted.

Both of these funding challenges, Laughman noted, are matters requiring State action.

Ron Harper, a County citizen and political observer, commended the Commissioners for their “sensitivity to the public,” but also urged them to keep a close eye on spending by the County Court and the Library System. Current plans to eventually construct new courtroom space, Harper asserted, are simply unnecessary: “We don’t need courtrooms. We need greater utilization and greater administrative oversight in order to utilize the space that we are paying richly for now.”

The central Library System, Harper also noted, need not spend $100,000 [a year] on rent: “Let’s get them on the ranch here, and get greater control, and I’ll feel a whole lot better about our tax dollars going to the Library System.”

In the Commissioners’ concluding remarks, Commissioner Craig Lehman articulated the spirit of sobriety that marked much of the evening’s discussion:

“Part of the reason why I’m so reserved tonight is because I believe this budget is a budget to be reserved about. It’s a responsible budget, but it’s not an easy one; and next year’s not going to get any easier. So I’m not really willing to claim victory or be too excited about the 2010 budget. I believe there are some times in life where you just have to do what you have to do.”