Oconee County committee advances strategic priorities including 2.25% COLA, sewer and quarry investments

Oconee County’s Budget, Finance and Administration Committee on March 4 reviewed a staff-drafted strategic-priority list that recommends a mix of near-term, staff-level actions and multi-year capital projects aimed at stabilizing county operations and supporting economic development.

The overview presented by Miss Brock, a county staff member, put an immediate emphasis on a proposed cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) and set out 11 “tier 1” priorities that include sewer and paving projects, quarry capacity, a county paving crew, solid‑waste planning, and Pine Street courthouse security upgrades. Committee members discussed timelines, estimated costs and follow-up steps; staff will renumber and return a draft for committee direction in April.

The proposal’s most concrete near-term item is an implementation proposal for a 2.25% COLA for county staff. Miss Brock told the committee the proposal would align with the State of South Carolina and — if adopted with an effective implementation date of the first pay period in October — is estimated to cost about $565,000. The COLA figure appeared on the staff priority sheet and was identified by the presenter as a funding ask to be considered as the FY26 budget is drafted.

Several infrastructure items were described with preliminary cost estimates and timelines. An Exit 4…