YORK – The “pink postcard meeting” for Heartland School and county officials to talk about their budgets and increases in tax asking will be held in the basement of the York County Courthouse, starting at 6:01 p.m.
On Tuesday, the county commissioners talked about the upcoming meeting, with York County Commissioner Chairman Daniel Grotz noting “at least one of us, from the board, has to attend and all of us can attend if we want to. I also think it would be nice for the county’s elected officials and department heads – especially if their budgets are seeing large increases – to attend as well.”
“Yes, if departments have big increases, the heads of those department need to be there to take questions,” said Commissioner Andy Bowman.
Commissioner Randy Obermier said the department heads and elected officials “have been invited to attend and are strongly encouraged to be there.”
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Obermier said he’s been thinking about the county’s budget “and where we are right now, compared to the city of York or the York School District (as they do not have to participate in the pink postcard process).”
He was referring to the fact the county has to participate in the pink postcard process because the tax asking increase is beyond what is allowed without the public hearing, according to new state law. “Growth was a huge factor for the city and the school, that was huge for them. Most of the growth in the county was in the City of York and our growth went down substantially. In thinking about what is sustainable, going down the road, we have $3.7 million in the inheritance fund now.”
He also noted a substantial amount has been coming in, as well. And some money will be returned to the inheritance fund, as it had been used in the past with the intention for it to be paid back from other funds.
“I would be on board with using funds from the inheritance fund in order for us to give a little bit of tax relief,” Obermier said.
Grotz noted how the county’s budget hearing will be held Sept. 29 “and we could make adjustments then to take money from the inheritance fund” in order to cut the tax asking.
It was noted how the county is not required to hold a separate budget hearing since the pink postcard meeting fulfills that obligation, but all the commissioners agreed they wanted to have a separate budget hearing in the future.
“I’m fine with the expenditures right now; the only adjustment, I’m thinking, would be adding to the revenue in there, by taking money from the inheritance fund,” Obermier said.
Regarding the postcards received by property owners, it was noted how the state determined the specific language to be used on those meeting notifications.
“But the way some people are reading the pink postcards, I’ve heard from some where they are thinking they have to be at the pink postcard meeting, they are required to be, and that is not the case,” Obermier said. “I looked at the postcard I received and I don’t see that, but some people are concerned because they can’t be there.”
“Yes, the language on the cards is confusing and doesn’t correctly reflect what the end tax bill is going to be,” Grotz added.
The public is encouraged to attend the pink postcard meeting on Wednesday evening, but property owners are not required to be there if they do not want to be. The commissioners said the chairman will be explaining the budget and they will open up a time for questions and answers.
