Chester County 2025 Budget

The Chester County 2025 fiscal year budget that was passed by the County Commissioners by a 2-1 vote, totaled $730.3 million, $636.7 million for the Operating Budget and $93.7 million for the Capital Budget. This year’s budget represents a 6.87% increase over 2024. We discussed the resulting 13.47% tax increase in our 12/20/24 email, which can be seen here. We decided to dig into the county budget. Here’s a little of what we’ve found so far:

• Human Services:  $312.3 million; (49% of the Operating Budget) **
• Corrections:  $56.9 million (9%)
• Debt Service:  $55.9 million (9%)
• Judicial  $50 million (8%)
• General Government:  $49.9 million (8%)
• Miscellaneous:  $53.8 million (8%)
• Public Safety:  $25.5 million (4%)
• Other:  $26.1 million (4%)

**  Human Services includes Aging Services; Children Youth & Families; Community Development; Community Transit; Drug & Alcohol Services; Human Services; Managed Behavioral Healthcare; Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities; Pocopson Home; Public Health; and Workforce Development

• Federal & State Grants:  $279.3 million (44% of the Operating Budget)
• Real Estate Taxes:  $212.4 million (33%)
• Licenses, Fees & Fines:  $74.5 million (12%)
• Interfund Tranfers: $26.3 million (4%)
• Other:  $44 million (7%)

Personnel

County employee payroll/benefits make up the largest budget items for the county as it has for many years. However, the 2025 personnel expenses are significantly higher than in previous years as seen in the chart below:

This year there was a $19.2 million or 9.6% increase in personnel expense for an additional 61 full-time and 34 part-time/full-time equivalent employees. Community Transit (Chesco Connect) is adding 27 employees to drive and dispatch the county shuttle buses (a function that used to be outsourced to an actual busing company). Most of the 95 new employees will work in Human Services, while only 8 will go to Public Safety.

Federal and State Grants

Almost half of the county’s anticipated revenue is derived from federal and state grants. In fact, the Managed Behavioral Healthcare Fund which is classified under the broader Human Services category, derives 100% of its funding from federal & state grants…all $117 million of it. Many other Human Services are dependent on taxpayer funded grants as well, including $36 million to the Mental Health/Intellectual & Development Disabilities Fund.

Due to federal D.O.G.E. efforts to curb waste, fraud, and abuse in Washington, D.C. and the general uncertainty surrounding federal spending, it seems unwise for the county to be so dependent on the state and federal government for such a large percentage of the budget.

Bottom line…

Rather than cutting expenses, like so many of the Chester County taxpayers must do as they try to combat the inflation that has gripped the country, Chester County thought it was a great time to increase spending, grow government, and increase taxes on already struggling taxpayers. If the federal and state grants don’t produce the revenue that Chester County expects, then real estate taxes and fees will undoubtedly be increased. Why? Because, government officials seem incapable of reducing spending. It’s as if they believe they are entitled to every dollar they can seize from citizens. Unfortunately, voters elected leaders who simply don’t seem to know how to manage the taxpayers’ money!

If you have questions about items you see in the budget, please let us know! We will investigate, get those answers, and report back to you.

As the Constitutional Convention ended in 1787, Benjamin Franklin was asked if the delegates produced a monarchy or a republic. Franklin replied, “a republic, if you can keep it.”

We are trying to keep this republic that we love and hold our representatives accountable to the people. Join us in that mission and share this Update with your contacts!