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