Budget discussions continue between Lancaster County Engineering, Board of Commissioners

A budget battle continued Thursday over funding for Lancaster county bridges and roads.

County engineer Pam Dingman requested a large increase in  funding for her department, noting the conditions of the county’s infrastructure is in a crisis, needing to be addressed sooner than later.

Dingman told the board her department needs $8 million to fix infrastructure, much of it damaged by floodwaters.

“We’ve had an extraordinary, unprecedented, weather event that has just continued. It has stayed wet for three months, we actually just started construction for the year within the last two weeks,” said Dingman.

The new fiscal year started July 1st, and with no budget currently approved, Dingman says she doesn’t have the funding to begin construction on summer projects, and this is the busy season for it.

She also says her request of $8 million will barely put a dent in the total amount of needs for county infrastructure.

“We have 76 bad bridges. A 200 million dollar need. Even if my current ask was fully funded, we are still going to have 70 bridges that need attention,” said Dingman.

Some board members say money set aside for facility upgrades should go to the bridge fund.

“I think the bridges are the priority before the buildings, and that’s not a decision I come to lightly, or something that I’m happy about, but it is where I think I’m at,” said Lancaster County Commissioner Sean Flowerday.

“We understand the needs are out there, but we also understand that the funding is not out there,” said Dennis Meyer, the Lancaster County Budget and Fiscal Director.

Dingman’s request for $8 million, or a 3 percent increase in the property tax levy was rejected soundly by the board.

Board members say they’re willing to look at a lower number, like $3 million, which would still be a record increase.

“I know they’re not easy solutions, I know they’re not easy asks, but every day I talk to someone in my office who is a citizen who is devastated by the closing of these bridges, and whose lives it is dramatically impacting,” said Dingman.

An emergency meeting has been scheduled for next Tuesday morning to go over the numbers one more time.