County staff provided a broad capital-projects update and a September budget report at the Dorchester County Council meeting on Oct. 20.

Budget snapshot

A presenter summarized the September monthly budget report, saying “as of 25% of the fiscal year gone, we have collected 8.2% of the revenue,” and noting tax collections lag because tax bills were issued that week. The speaker reported components for multiple funds: general fund revenue (8.2% collected), general fund taxes (2.3% collected), library fund (6.2% collected), capital fund (4.1% collected), and water and sewer funds (7.1% collected). The presenter also said expenditures across funds were approximately in the low- to mid-20% range of budgeted amounts for the fiscal period.

American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA)

Staff reported on the county's ARPA funds and stated that the total received “including interest was 33,000,707 thousand 891” and that approximately 94.8% of ARPA project funds had been expended; the presenter said only four projects funded by ARPA remained ongoing on the county’s project list. (Meeting audio rendered the ARPA total in a way that was not clear; staff indicated the county has disbursed nearly all ARPA project funds and maintains a list of completed and ongoing projects.)

Capital projects and timelines

Adam Davis and Bruce Oller gave project updates across the county’s capital program, outlining near-term milestones and public meetings on multiple projects, including:

- Mixed-use development at 500 North Main Street: public meeting held and design review participation by the town of Summerville planned for November–December; council briefings to follow.

- Oakbrook Sports Complex: preconstruction and stormwater programming concluding, with construction expected to begin next month and an estimated 12-month build (about 360 days) reported for the main build.

- Somerville library site: county executed a voluntary cleanup contract with the Department of Environmental Services and Terracon’s proposal was pending a notice to proceed from DES.

- Fire Station 8 (Ridgeville), Veterans facility, Summers Corner Fire & EMS, and other county facilities: staff described foundations, framing, site work and permitting milestones at various stages.

- Road and bridge projects: Deer Run Bridge replacement progressed with pile-driving and concrete work; US-78 Phase 3 design revisions were under review with SCDOT value-engineering input; several public information meetings were scheduled for November and December on projects including Miles Jamieson Road improvements and Orangeburg Loop public meetings.

- Drainage and stormwater projects: Rice and Rice Mill drainage permitting expected to wrap up this month with construction advertisement in November; other stormwater and corridor projects were in design or right-of-way phases.

Utilities and water/wastewater work

Larry Harper reported on multiple utility projects: DC regional waterline interconnection (phase 1 about 75% complete on linear footage), pump station work, lower wastewater treatment-plant expansion at about 53.7% completion per pay applications, and several force-main and waterline installations currently under construction or at advanced design stages.

Why this matters: The updates provide the council and public with near-term construction timelines, show which projects are entering procurement and construction, and flag funding/expenditure status. Staff noted many projects are in right-of-way, permitting or bidding stages and gave dates for upcoming public meetings so residents can comment on designs and impacts.