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Oconee County Council adopts 2025–26 budget, approves one‑time $100,000 to help Walhalla fire service
Summary
Oconee County Council adopted its fiscal 2025–26 budget on May 20 and directed staff to identify $70,000 in county funding to match $30,000 from the City of Walhalla to pay for two firefighters for one year; the council also addressed school millage and considered, but did not adopt, a quarry rate change.
Oconee County Council adopted the county’s fiscal year 2025–26 budget at its May 20 meeting and directed the county administrator to identify $70,000 in one‑time county funds to match a $30,000 contribution from the City of Walhalla so the city can keep two firefighters on duty for one year.
The budget ordinance (Ordinance 2025‑01) establishes county appropriations for the 12 months beginning July 1, 2025. County Administrator Amanda Brock gave an overview of proposed budget items during committee review and told the council that the proposal contains no planned tax increase for the coming fiscal year.
The action on the Walhalla support came as Council member Elliot moved to “direct the administrator to identify the funding in the amount of $70,000. It’s gonna be a match. They’re gonna put up $30,000 because it’s $100,000 for the 2 firefighters for 1 time allocation to the City of Walhalla to provide fire and emergency response.” Council members emphasized the payment is a one‑time allocation; one member stated explicitly it is “one year only.”
The council also considered the school district’s budget and millage. Dr. Michael Thorsen, identified to the council in a written statement, reported that the School District of Oconee County’s board on May 12 voted to transfer $1,200,000 of general fund balance to the district capital budget. According to that statement, the transfer “will allow the millage levy for the capital budget to be reduced from 30 mills to 28.6.” During the county discussion the council amended language on the second reading to set the county tax provision at a ceiling of 110 mills (recorded as an amendment during the session); the ordinance was then returned for finalization as part of the budget adoption.
Council members also discussed quarry user rates. Brock presented a proposal to increase out‑of‑county quarry rates by $5 per ton for certain high‑demand materials; she stated, “The $5 per ton is for out of county only.” A council amendment to implement that out‑of‑county rate change was proposed but did not pass during the meeting.
The council completed second reading and approved the county budget ordinance and related items so the budget can take effect with the new fiscal year on July 1, 2025. The one‑time Walhalla allocation is to be identified from county funds by the administrator and provided as a matched contribution with the city’s $30,000, subject to staff verification and accounting.
