[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6062499,"mediaKeyId","3277769-cba645af91f19bff01db98ab2434097a","parentId",3277769,"title","Committee hears EMS funding increase and discusses contract model for ambulance services","audioSeconds",63,"startMs",2300000,"endMs",2363000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277769-cba645af91f19bff01db98ab2434097a&start=2300&end=2363","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277769-cba645af91f19bff01db98ab2434097a/thumbnail_2300000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6062499/Oconee-County/South-Carolina/Committee-hears-EMS-funding-increase-and-discusses-contract-model-for-ambulance-services","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062499-dd9a728756d33e09a390017a2aa8e3f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176113&Signature=U980qvjkOFOaOLOG-y~8uCPYjAFgraBCiRutIHTOzXRmV8tSaPVq8HcJh38DE6kTOwWG8QTsWeILXTPcAzsKs-vsn5PC6fvyr~7oA~-CR-3xtIjkv4wCwH5yQOmhB2-HMNdKez7t604to4oNa5drxXGYIZO5sldU5Fo35IuguOXljGoNftnoJmOrCsbDg~DQnk2beYXSjH0Fy11RFFPgreRyve1Zb4hTL4zDA763j2K7PGY1qz3M5Z1hLrR-I~8Gd-aVdoVC3Pq2Z9Gonhfq633IFYAGPQ-15U9PVMx9CbJIWl62BY76j7BUfR5Y398kHsv4HldGzkdEOzn6HWM2Lw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Your Oconee","date","2025-05-07T09:19:14Z","article","Oconee County staff told the Budget, Finance and Administration Committee on May 6 that the draft budget includes $1.3 million for emergency medical services, up from earlier funding levels.

Miss Brock (staff member) said the county increased EMS funding from roughly $300,000 in an earlier cycle to $1.3 million and that local ambulance providers would present to the committee later in the evening to request additional funds. Brock said the county agreed at the time of the prior increase that further permanent increases might be difficult for several years and that additional funding requests will be evaluated in future budget cycles.

Brock recommended the county and providers consider a contract‑for‑services arrangement similar to the contracts used to fund out‑of‑city fire protection, which would set expectations for recurring support and might allow the county to budget predictably for ambulance services.

The committee discussed the possibility of one‑time capital pockets (for example, vehicle replacements that come in under expected cost) being used for limited additional support during the fiscal year, but no contract or additional appropriation was approved at the May 6 meeting.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Budget Committee Meeting May 6, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Committee members were told EMS funding in the draft budget is $1.3 million — a rise from prior years — and staff suggested exploring a contract for services with ambulance providers similar to municipal fire protection contracts.","taxTitle","Oconee County, South Carolina","taxId",50866,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6062504,"Committee weighs more equitable funding, recruitment for volunteer fire stations",269,1677000,1946000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277769-cba645af91f19bff01db98ab2434097a&start=1677&end=1946","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277769-cba645af91f19bff01db98ab2434097a/thumbnail_1677000.jpg","/articles/6062504/Oconee-County/South-Carolina/Committee-weighs-more-equitable-funding-recruitment-for-volunteer-fire-stations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062504-668db324995ae55ef866921a6b286749/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176113&Signature=KHoKAGoGIMR11E8nrBpt3pqkiPhP~8~x85WsLzDIrVSuNN8Te1MP8juXoMzr7Nj3G2Ue0iL7pz7btq4oaWePfPQljjA~v0Gv7bV~LpqkCDLX7l7nuvs4gWYnmnfXxP~QwT3DOHQOYRovEKtSsfwyiLzlhrKpQa92mgG-kNTDPOOjuIAa1JocZKManjtWo7e1cRJNJWMHMHo8NFmzRIdAWecnoDQaovjlnJ3xz8AeomxNXz4DmHniOov6Bpp02gLv-wQMv0w4kyApbY2tGGwTHU5-0fuxx-B85zcWVe49UqBfxN9~zcxxKVi3ZsJHDEm~5ZiSL~uMl~r7PyhpgO4UWg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oconee County committee members discussed funding and recruitment challenges for volunteer fire departments on May 6, focusing on equitable allocations and the long‑term decline in volunteers.

Miss Brock (staff member) outlined current funding practices and noted one station’s support showing $15,000 compared with other stations showing $60,000 in the draft budget. Committee members and staff discussed a proposal to provide a base payment to each station with additional funds distributed by percentage based on call volume or activity.

Why it matters: Fire and rescue coverage across the county depends heavily on volunteers; funding formulas and recruitment initiatives affect response capability and equipment parity among stations.

Key takeaways from the discussion:
- Funding formula options: Staff suggested a base amount (example cited of $10,000) plus a percentage allocation above that based on call activity, mirroring approaches used in other counties. Brock said some counties “convert” stations to county‑owned or use base+percentage distributions to improve equity.
- Disparities and reasons: Committee members highlighted that geography and call type produce varying costs — for example, some stations do more special rescues while others see more high‑speed highway incidents requiring heavy equipment. Brock noted the county’s large area (she said 628 square miles) and differing station workloads.
- Volunteer recruitment and training: Members discussed adding a recruiting officer and returning training programs to local high schools or career centers as one way to attract younger volunteers. Brock and others noted statewide volunteer declines driven by training requirements and demographic changes; several called for active recruitment rather than passive acknowledgement of the problem.
- Facilities and signage: Committee members said some satellite stations lack signage or clear mapping, which complicates response and public orientation; Brock took note to follow up.

No formal funding formula or ordinance was adopted at the meeting; the committee asked staff to continue studying equitable distributions and recruitment strategies, and to present options for future meetings.","Committee members discussed disparities in support for volunteer fire departments, possible formulas combining a base payment with call‑volume percentages, and creation of a recruiting officer and school outreach to address volunteer decline.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6062509,"Committee reviews proposed fee increases for delinquent tax notices, library fines, parks and camping",256,207000,463000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277769-cba645af91f19bff01db98ab2434097a&start=207&end=463","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277769-cba645af91f19bff01db98ab2434097a/thumbnail_207000.jpg","/articles/6062509/Oconee-County/South-Carolina/Committee-reviews-proposed-fee-increases-for-delinquent-tax-notices-library-fines-parks-and-camping","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062509-9c226be29ef330c02e8fdcc3e9de9a5e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176113&Signature=iIAoGpJnfYrEMBbvuJB~FpfZ6C1SZ~zsjaeQVmOI1mCuANriZnW1t8inWcPCpPdlmlyKNPBYsdfrHzxbqY2lF8AOe7wTiVUi2FJEU7qCpXMNvl4si~rs8488cm-9bFfH-MKySMGxfXAyTMLrFdvVUGNoEGIe6Pi6WsaPJCnGcnXzTUD6YjP-sxRDrirKweN8p~SSzrcxNFpKo03LtDyXJybfnoxFnMyTLhTw~dOxkOjcvo72fFTMlSC~U~-bCnVZBn~vhXvoBmlMHOu8gg7u5~clAwe1A1NdlpSmJ~QRSkuGp4vjf95qfsg2NqwSs9xZ0Qwr5WGvHMOWew03qH8yag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oconee County budget staff presented proposed updates to the county fee schedule on May 6, covering delinquent tax‑notice fees, library overdue fines, park parking and nonresident camping rates. Committee members discussed cost recovery, equity and resident exemptions; no formal fee ordinances were adopted at the session.

Miss Brock (staff member) outlined several proposals and said the changes were “appropriately reflected” in the fee schedule after earlier conversations with council members. She noted a prior council suggestion to increase initial delinquent‑tax processing fees and the incremental fees charged during the tax‑collection process but presented the figures for discussion rather than as final decisions.

Details discussed (discussion only):
- Delinquent tax notices: Brock said a council member had suggested increasing the “first cost to $25 and the fourth cost to $1.50” to create incremental increases during the delinquency process. Another committee member, Mr. Durham (committee member), said the processing cost for the first notice should be about $12 and recommended increasing the final fee for termination/tax‑sale processing toward $50 to cover county costs. Committee members emphasized not wanting to be “punitive on somebody already in a hole” while also recovering processing costs.
- Library fines: Brock said the library’s overdue fine has been 10 cents (noted as a carryover from the 1980s or 1990s) and the recommendation on the fee schedule is to increase it to 25 cents; lost‑book charges remain tied to replacement cost.
- Parks and recreation fees: Brock described a proposal to raise daily vehicle parking at county parks from $3 to $5 per vehicle and to set boat-and‑trailer daily parking at $10 per vehicle. She clarified the daily rate was per vehicle, not per person, and that county employees with county ID would use resident rates.
- Nonresident camping: Brock said current nonresident camping rates are $25 per night (non‑waterfront) and that staff recommended increasing the nonresident rate to $30 and waterfront nonresident to $40 per night — increases of $5 and $10 per night, respectively. Enforcement uses identification checks and booking records.

Committee members asked for time to consider equity and collection burdens; no final changes were voted on at the May 6 session. Brock invited follow‑up questions and indicated the fee schedule pages will be part of later budget ordinances if the committee directs them forward.","Budget staff presented proposed changes to the county fee schedule including delinquent tax-notice fees, library overdue fines, daily park parking and nonresident camping rates. Committee discussion considered equity, collection costs and resident exemptions; no fee changes were adopted at the meeting.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6062514,"Oconee County committee reviews tight FY2025-26 budget; no tax increase proposed",2567,123000,2690000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3277769-cba645af91f19bff01db98ab2434097a&start=123&end=2690","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3277769-cba645af91f19bff01db98ab2434097a/thumbnail_123000.jpg","/articles/6062514/Oconee-County/South-Carolina/Oconee-County-committee-reviews-tight-FY2025-26-budget-no-tax-increase-proposed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6062514-f242e37d0b214e9c3ab7c188b746568e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771176113&Signature=dpzt7yMRNYndetsmXCKapDQg-Tf2pEpeC7OcVtRsJKD4pOeva6KIVMZwpCt5IYPZRQGG6vsGAA0sYT0jQQ01nZFPBEsbKCnxVrbRx42w6nKqYTzOqtaO7xGwZAH~EG4zn1od0x-tIkmCc7J2BmH2-vSXr1RMIeAHlEz3Q-vTGmoNeSn1uAauo-O~-Z4RrbzH3TYFct5~jv3IQk0bN78APqaLt3kLo6x62KNY2AAqCoYOQJnPvTUuDcpqylhScIN6k2kK2lnw27mKHcyq21KPr8IvCZGmhDF1hmf95lml05nFf267-x-PIfbMhafJUqRi83nCmSMqeynOLULrdrnv6g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Oconee County’s Budget, Finance and Administration Committee continued review of the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget on May 6, with staff presenting what she called “a tight and very balanced budget” and saying “there is no tax increase.”

The presentation, led by Miss Brock (staff member), focused on a round of allocations that keep public safety and capital needs central. Brock said the draft includes increased public-safety spending for law enforcement and emergency services, additional overtime for officers, and a 2.25% cost-of-living adjustment across the board. “This is a tight and very balanced budget. It's balanced to the penny,” Brock said.

Why it matters: committee members were reviewing priorities that affect county services and capital projects without proposing a property tax increase. The budget discussion identified where limited new resources would go and flagged items that will need future decisions or outside approvals.

Key details from the discussion:
- Public safety: Brock said extra overtime and new resources for law enforcement and emergency services are driving increases. The draft funds temporary firefighters’ conversion to full-time positions where needed and includes equipment and vehicle replacement plans across volunteer and county stations.
- Detention center: Inmate health care and inmate food bids came in higher than anticipated; Brock described these as “unavoidable” increases in the general fund.
- Staff and positions: The proposed budget moves a grants position into a different office and adds a risk manager position; Brock said the only consistently added direct position in the draft is for law enforcement.
- Contingency and one-time costs: Brock described contingency uses such as $30,000 directed to engineering for a bar screen at the detention facility under a consent order, and noted a reduced professional-services contingency compared with prior years.
- Airport and capital projects: The draft includes a $6,400,000 airport project. Brock said capital planning and a countywide facilities assessment are underway to schedule one-time capital needs over multiple years.
- Revenues and no tax increase: Brock reiterated the draft includes no proposed property tax increase and noted the county’s historically high tax collection rate, which she said is above 98%.

Matters pending outside the committee’s control were also raised: Brock said Clemson has not authorized any expansion related to the health department records move; DHEC review is still pending for sewer work related to the Golden Corner/Exit 4 project; and a potential special council meeting may be required if external approvals arrive.

No formal vote on the budget ordinance occurred at the session. Brock referred to the budget ordinance process, saying ordinances require three readings and a public hearing. Committee members asked for further details and said they would continue reviewing capital millage and departmental budgets in follow-up sessions.

The committee did not adopt the budget at the May 6 meeting; Brock said staff will bring back additional information on capital timing, staffing impacts and any outside approvals that become available.","On May 6 the Budget, Finance and Administration Committee continued review of the proposed fiscal 2025–26 budget. Staff presented a balanced spending plan with no tax increase and emphasized increases for public safety, detention costs and one-time capital projects; no final adoption occurred at the meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Committee hears EMS funding increase and discusses contract model for ambulance services

Committee weighs more equitable funding, recruitment for volunteer fire stations

Committee reviews proposed fee increases for delinquent tax notices, library fines, parks and camping

Oconee County committee reviews tight FY2025-26 budget; no tax increase proposed