Richland County board adopts 2023 budget, will use ARPA funds to close $524,088 gap

The Richland County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday adopted the county’s 2023 budget after a public hearing and a summary presentation by Administrator Tom Langrick. The board set the 2023 county levy at $10,453,967.02 and recorded estimated county sales tax revenue of $1,350,000 in the budget documents.

Langrick told the board the proposed budget incorporates a number of priorities, including a 5% cost‑of‑living increase for employees, a 2% increase for Pine Valley Ambulance tied to recruitment and retention needs, transition to an Employee Trust Fund high‑deductible health plan, continued short‑term note borrowing for capital projects, and use of ARPA funds to cover a one‑time structural gap. "I'm gonna say that again, the structural deficit, if you will, is $524,088.07 that we're filling with ARPA funds," Langrick said during his presentation.

The administrator said the total levy represents about a 0.64% increase from the prior year and that the county expects to have approximately $1.15 million in ARPA funds remaining for operational use through 2025. He also described capital priorities including an emergency radio tower project with potential future borrowing up to $8.5 million and other deferred maintenance needs across county buildings.

At the public hearing Dan Pieterschek, president of a local civic organization, urged continued support for law enforcement and referenced recent high‑profile criminal incidents to press for attention to public safety staffing and response times during the board’s deliberations. Langrick and board members said the 2023 budget does not include substantial cuts to law enforcement, though future budgets will require continued prioritization and potential referendum options to close recurring gaps.

The board approved the budget by voice vote. The resolution adopting the budget (resolution 22‑107) specifies the levy amount and notes that taxes collected in 2022 will fund county expenditures for 2023.

The adopted budget workbook and administrative narrative filed with the board detail department‑level adjustments including consolidation and elimination of some highway shop positions, a new part‑time clerical position in child support, creation of a separate county tech/MIS budget, and reallocation of roughly $75,000–$80,000 in legacy housing authority funds to be used through the county’s general fund in partnership with economic development.

Langrick and the finance and personnel committee indicated the county will continue prioritization work, explore referendum options to reduce levy dependency, and consider a revised budget format during the next year.