1st Reading on Laurens County Budget

Laurens County Council this week gave unanimous 1st reading approval for a 2019-2020 budget for county operations. Language cited no tax increase, noting a need to set millage sufficient for over $11.1 million. Other income figures noted included a residential household solid waste management fee of $65 per year and a road fee for each registered vehicle to be set at $15.

While this week’s 1st budget approval was in name only, the budget did have some expense figures presented by Administrator Jon Caine.

The budget notes a state mandate that requires Laurens County to include an additional expense of $146,400 in the county budget next fiscal year to provide more coverage for the employee pension program. The budget shows just under $104,000 noted for victim’s assistance.

The budget makes reference to Fund 113 regarding maintenance of a stable fund balance of $500,000 that’s established for the purpose of separate accountability to offset the costs and related expenditures associated with the collections of delinquent taxes by the county treasurer’s office.

The monies for this special revenue fund are to be transferred from the restricted cost account funds of the treasurer, as authorized and directed by the treasurer.

At this point the budget also calls for continuing a one-mill fund that goes to Piedmont Technical College operations in the county, with some of tht also going to the University of South Carolina – Union at Laurens Special Revenue Fund.

A tax figure yet to be determined for Fund 128 will provide funding for the Laurens County EMS Special Revenue Fund.

Laurens County Council this week also gave unanimous 1st reading approval for the County Fire Service budget for the new fiscal year, with no dollar figures listed at this time.

County Council this week also gave 1st reading approval on an ordinance to, again this year, continue using 29% of money from the Local Options Sales Tax for the county’s General Fund. Councilman Joe Wood cast a dissenting ‘no’ vote. 71% of that money will still go to lowering property tax.