ALFRED — York County Manager Greg Zinser is proposing a county budget that reduces the assessment to municipalities by $50,000, to an even $16 million for the fiscal year that begins July 1, 2013.

York County Commissioners began their budget review Wednesday. They’re examining two spending plans ”“ a six-month budget from Jan. 1 to June 30, 2013 and a fiscal year budget from July 1, 2013 to June 30, 2014 as the county transitions from a calendar year to a fiscal year. Including revenues, the proposed  budget for the fiscal year is $18.3 million. The six-month proposal is $9.1 million.

The 18-month spending plan includes splitting the cost of a proposed human resources director’s position with the jail and increasing part-time receptionist and custodial positions to full time. The plan proposes a part-time legal secretary for the district attorney’s office, a second part-time computer technician position and a part-time clerk at the York County Sheriff’s Office.

Zinser said the decrease in the fiscal year budget is due to a $280,000 reduction in the capped amount the county contributes annually to the operation of York County Jail under the consolidated jail system. Since consolidation, York County’s contribution has been a fixed $8.667 million annually; commissioners had said that was too high, but their first bid to have the cap reduced through legislation a few years ago was unsuccessful. It was broached during a subsequent session and approved by the Legislature.

“That reduction is one of the driving forces that allows us to absorb the small part of the human resources (director’s) salary and other increases,” said Zinser.

Commissioner Gary Sinden credited the success of the jail cap reduction to fellow Commissioner David Bowles, a former state legislator.

“This skill as a legislator helped that to happen,” said Sinden, who also recognized Rep. Bradley Moulton of York, for his work on the bill.

Hiring a human resources director for the 200-employee county government was a recommendation in a recent study by Darci and Associates LLC. Since York County Jail has about 100 employees, Zinser said half the salary would be billed to the jail, with the remaining $35,000 coming from the county.

Under a policy set by county commissioners a couple of years ago, the spending plan contains no contributions to social service agencies.

The budget contains proposed 2 percent pay increases for employees and commissioners.

Commissioners heard presentations from the registries of deeds and probate Wednesday as well as York County Emergency Management Agency ”“ all of whom said their budget proposals haven’t differed much from the current year.

Register of Deeds Debra Anderson said the registry is seeing a slight uptick in business.

“It’s up a bit, it’s not spectacular,” said Anderson. She said the deeds registry will meet its revenue projections for this year ”“ about $1.4 million ”“ and maybe a bit more.

Zinser indicated health insurance premiums have stabilized after a 24.9 percent increase this year, but said retirement contributions are up about $53,000.

York County Commissioners will examine the budget proposals over the next couple of weeks and will meet again to discuss it at 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at the York County government building on Route 4. They will make a recommendation to the county budget committee by Nov. 1. The budget committee will review the budget and conduct a public hearing. Their vote following the public hearing sets the spending plan.

— Senior Staff Writer Tammy Wells can be contacted at 324-4444 (local call in Sanford) or 282-1535, Ext. 327 or twells@journaltribune.com.