Marlboro County Council is looking at some tough decisions for the fiscal year 2022-23 budget.
Council approved the second reading of the proposed budget, which is still a work in progress, at their monthly meeting on Tuesday.
It includes budget requests for five new deputy positions with benefits ($260,000); five patrol vehicle ($32,000 leased); increase the base salary of all detention center ($80,575); salary increase/create corporal positions for the MCSO ($10,200); and field data collectors for tax assessor’s office ($55,000).
Council has not increased millage in three years. The state sets percentage increases allowed each year.
County Administrator Ron Munnerlyn said if the increase isn’t used, it can be carried forward for three years.
Currently, the county has 8.5 mils.
Council member Verd Odom was concerned about maxing out the 8.5 mils.
“People in the country and county are getting hammered,” he said. “If you listen to the experts, this economy may not be at the bottom.”
Acting Sheriff Larry McNeil shared his office was working on an application to house federal inmates, which would bring revenue into the county.
Council members discussed various options for deputies from having five new deputies to two or three deputies and the number of mils to fund it.
Council member Steve Blackmon felt the number of mils needed for five deputies was too much. He felt three was a good number and there needed to be a cut somewhere else in the budget.
Odom noted the county had always been short on the number of deputies.
“We want to do everything we can. But have to be cognizant of the taxpayers. We want them to be protected but we can’t hammer them.”
McNeil said he understands what council was saying. He reminded them that deputies weren’t machines but people.
Council plans to have an upcoming budget work session.
Other business
— Council approved first reading (title only) of Ordinance #830 to Provide for the creation of a county road maintenance fund, the recurring imposition of a road maintenance fee and the use of revenues collected for the road maintenance fee, and to provide certain findings with respect to the road maintenance fee required by the South Carolina Supreme Court in Burns vs. Greenville County Council.
— Council approved second reading of Ordinance #828 to approve the Capital Improvement Plan for Marlboro County for the period of FY 2023-2027.
— Council learned the general revenue funds for the ten months ending April 3o totaled $10,007,090. General fund expenditures through April 30 totaled $9,620,314 of a $12,825,594 budget, or 75.01% of budget year to date. Expenditures for the ten months ending April 30, 2021 totaled $9,412,718. Finance Director Wes Park said income was higher due to increases in state and local tax revenues, and expenditures are higher for the same year-to-date period for this year versus last year.
— Council approved first reading of Ordinance #829 to creating a Special Tax Assessment for Eligible Rehabilitated Historic Properties (title only).
— Council voted to appoint Susan Rivers as Clerk to Council.
— Council learned staff will advertise a request for proposals for the redo of the Economic Development website, which is included in the current year budget. The goal is to interconnect the site with the county government website.
Anniversaries
Munnerlyn recognized the following employees with five or more years of service to the county through the month of May: Shante Weldon, five years; Kaye Liner, 22 years; Teresa Burgess, 20 years; Brian Oxendine, nine years; Arthur Hamer, 24 year; and Amber Goings, seven years.
The entire May 10 meeting of the Marlboro County Council can be found on the Marlboro County Government YouTube channel.