Introducting YoCo's New County Commissioner, Scott Burford

BY DAVID GONZALEZ | DIRECTOR, ECONOMIC INITIATIVES

Elected in November 2023 to the York County Board of Commissioners, Scott Burford is the newest face on the board. Commissioner Burford brings with him over 20 years in public service and in that same time, he has called York County home. Before being elected in York County, he worked for the Dauphin County Board of Commissioners where he most recently held the role of Chief Clerk/Chief of Staff.

RUNNING FOR COUNTY COMMISSIONER

When asked what led him to run for Commissioner, Burford said “I’m very goal-oriented and have picked up life experiences in my previous role and found that I hit my professional goals in Dauphin County. I found myself coming back home after the workday not as engaged locally and wanted to embark on a new challenge and use my experiences to benefit my home county.”

WHAT SHOULD THE PUBLIC KNOW ABOUT COUNTY GOVERNMENT?

“I shouldn’t be shocked, but in some ways, I am surprised on how many residents misunderstand what county government’s authority is and where the boundaries are,” said Burford. In Pennsylvania, County Commissioners have both legislative and executive roles. Balancing the county budget is the primary charge of this board. York County’s budget is north of $690 million, where $265 million is considered the General Fund; and, closing the gap on unfunded state mandates is becoming a growing concern across Pennsylvania Counties.

TOP GOALS FOR COMMISSIONER BURFORD

Quality of life at large, from public safety, attainable housing, mental health, pathways for economic prosperity, and the various facets and interrelations of these topics are all top of mind for the Commissioner. He emphasizes providing economic opportunities and noted a previous conversation that resonated with him on childcare “if we can address the childcare issues, we can bolster the labor market. We lost many of the providers during the pandemic and it is an opportunity that will have ripple effects for the economic potential of our people and businesses.”

GET TO KNOW SCOTT

WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SEASON?

Fall and Winter. I love to ski in the winter and cycle in the fall.

FAVORITE PLACE TO CYCLE IN YORK COUNTY?

Lakes Redman and Williams are my favorites.

WHAT’S SOMETHING YOU BOAST ABOUT WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT YORK COUNTY WITH PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE THE AREA?

How we have a rich amount of outdoor recreational amenities, from the county’s park system, trails, state parks, and waterways. We have a little bit of it all. Not to mention history and towns with great dining and beverage options.