Four Council Members Oppose Lancaster Budget

Lancaster City Council members say they will vote against Mayor Jaime Arroyo's proposed 2027 budget over a 5% property tax increase.

Updated on Nov. 4, 2026 in City Hall

Four Council Members Oppose Lancaster Budget

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Should your city raise property taxes to fund its budget during rising costs?

Four of Lancaster's seven City Council members indicated they would vote against Mayor Jaime Arroyo's proposed $89.02 million 2027 budget. The budget would raise property taxes 5% over the revenue-neutral rate.

Why it matters

The council vote could determine whether the city raises property taxes after voters adopted home rule in 2024. Residents said at a public meeting that city leaders had promised no tax increase after home rule passed.

The proposed $89.02 million budget would set property taxes at 6.069 mills, 5% above the revenue-neutral rate, and raise the earned income tax rate by 0.1% to 1.1%. Four of seven council members must vote against the budget to defeat it, and revised scenarios will be presented at the Nov. 17 hearing.

The players

Jaime Arroyo

Mayor of Lancaster who proposed the 2027 city budget including the property tax increase.

John Hursh

Chair of the Lancaster City Council Finance Committee who said he will vote against any budget raising property taxes above the revenue-neutral rate.

The details

Finance Committee Chair John Hursh said he will vote against any 2027 budget that raises property taxes above the revenue-neutral rate, citing the lack of a mathematical justification. Council members Amos Stoltzfus, Marshall Miller and Kat Gastineau also signaled opposition during a Nov. 2 committee meeting.

2024: Voters passed home rule.
Oct. 13: Mayor Jaime Arroyo presented the proposed 2027 budget.
Oct. 27: Residents criticized the proposed tax increase during public comments.
Nov. 2: Council members stated they would vote against the budget.
Nov. 10: Council meets at 6:30 p.m.

Political Context

Residents say city leadership reneged on a promise of no tax increase made after voters adopted home rule in 2024. Council opponents are focused on whether the proposed 5% increase above the revenue-neutral rate is mathematically justified.

If approved, the proposed budget would raise property taxes 5% above the revenue-neutral rate and increase the earned income tax rate to 1.1%, affecting Lancaster homeowners and workers. Residents who oppose the increase can attend council meetings and public comment sessions before the vote.

The takeaway

The council's vote will show whether Lancaster's home rule promises on taxes are enforced through the budget process. Residents can track the Nov. 10 meeting and the Nov. 17 hearing to see how revised scenarios affect the proposed property tax increase.

What happens next

Mayor Jaime Arroyo's administration will present revised budget scenarios at the second budget hearing on Nov. 17, and the council meets at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 10.