Darlington County to have $22.2 million budget
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Darlington County Council held a budget work session on Monday, April 23 and discussed changes for the upcoming 2018/19 fiscal year, which will include a general fund budget of $22.2 million for operating expenditures.
County administrator Charles Stewart informed council members that the unassigned fund balance is currently at $10.8 million. Darlington County has an internal rule that requires an unassigned fund balance (which would cover county operating expenses in the event of an emergency) matching at least thirty-five percent of the general fund, so this year’s fund balance is approximately $3 million healthier than minimum standards.
Stewart outlined increases in employer retirement contributions, which will add another $136,000 each year to the county’s budget, adding up to an additional $2.8 million by fiscal year 2023. He also warned that the county will have to absorb a 7-percent hike in employee health insurance costs.
Property taxes will be increased by 1.47 mills, per the SC state law millage cap of 2.13 percent.
Revenue decreases are forecast for federal inmate housing (due to reduced demand), landfill solid waste fees and tipping fees, and Emergency Services residential fees.
Departmental budget recommendations included $3.7 million for the W. Glenn Campbell Correctional Center, $755,107 for the Prison Farm, $5.58 million for the Sheriff’s Office, $2.79 million for Environmental Services, $2.3 million for the Fire District, $1.4 million for the Library Fund, and $2.3 million for the Darlington County Airport.
Stewart said he would be bringing council a proposal to discontinue their vehicle fleet agreement with First Vehicle Services and begin leasing cars and trucks from Enterprise instead. The bulk of the county’s vehicle fleet is law enforcement vehicles, and Stewart said that leasing these vehicles (thereby offloading maintenance costs, depreciation losses, and replacement expenses) would show a significant savings within five years.
“You won’t have to issue bonds to replace patrol cars and normal work cars,” Stewart said. “If you enter this lease process, they’ll turn over every three to six years, based on their usage.”
Stewart proposed a one-time 1 percent bonus for all employees (which would be funded by reducing the contingency fund by $140,000) in addition to the annual 2.5 percent incentive. Council member Bobby Kilgo proposed changing this bonus to a raise instead, and council approved this suggestion. This reduces the contingency fund (for miscellaneous expenses) to $297,769 for the next fiscal year.
Council member Lewis Brown asked Stewart about the possibility of reducing the county’s building permit fees, citing complaints from some contractors that some fees are triple the cost of similar permits in Florence County. Stewart said the current permit fees are built into the budget, and changing them would require a vote of council. Brown argued that if builders consider the fees “punitive” it could negatively impact economic development and housing starts in the county.
Council discussed the meeting of the Capital Project Sales Tax Commission earlier that morning, where CPST members voted to approve a possible ballot question to levy a one-percent sales tax for the financing of a new courthouse / administration building. Council will be required to pass this ballot question through three readings before it can be placed on the November general election ballot. Per the request of council member David Coker, Stewart said he would be presenting council with a request for $80,000 to fund a feasibility study on how the current courthouse building might be rehabilitated and redesigned for use as administration offices.
As it stands, the current projected cost for demolishing the building and returning that area of the Darlington Public Square to green space is $3.36 million.
Darlington County Council will hold their next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 7 at 6 p.m. The meeting will take place in the Fifth Floor courtroom of the Darlington County Courthouse.