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County administrator presents recommended $323.9 million FY2026 budget; council schedules work sessions
Summary
County Administrator Todd Sturkey presented a recommended FY2025–26 budget that totals $323,925,949 in appropriations, uses about $11.68 million of fund balance to balance revenues and proposes personnel and capital priorities. Council set work sessions beginning April 29 to review department requests and outside agencies.
Todd Sturkey, the county administrator, presented Lexington County’s recommended budget for fiscal year 2025–26 at the council meeting on April 22, 2025. Sturkey told council the recommended total appropriations across the general and non‑general funds equal $323,925,949 and that projected revenues total $312,242,941, requiring the planned use of $11,683,008 in fund balance to balance the fiscal plan.
Sturkey said the recommended general fund total is $208,101,799, with a projected general‑fund revenue shortfall that will be covered by one‑time fund‑balance uses for capital items. He explained department‑level figures: fire service recommended at $34,110,119, law enforcement at $69,139,142 and emergency medical services at $27,093,736. Sturkey reported personnel costs comprise about 68.87% of the general fund recommendation and stressed personnel remain a priority.
The administrator outlined three compensation options embedded in materials: a 6% package (3% cost‑of‑living and 3% merit) that is included in the recommended budget; a 5% option (2% COLA + 3% merit); and a 4% option (1% COLA + 3% merit). He said the merit component would be awarded based on annual employee reviews. Sturkey also listed 39 new program requests (33 general fund, 6 non‑general fund) totaling $4,454,503; he said many new personnel requests were not included in the recommended budget because recurring funding sources were not certain.
Sturkey described non‑general funds and special revenue items, including a $2,200,000 HOME‑ARP appropriation transfer proposed to support a property purchase for the Homeless No More project and a requested movement of funds to fully fund renovations at the Lewis McCarty firearms range and training facility. He said the county will hold budget work sessions starting April 29 to hear about department requests (the transcript lists 10 departments requesting reconsideration) and a following Tuesday for outside agencies.
Council members asked clarifying questions. One councilman asked whether the 3% merit portion of the compensation proposal is automatic; Sturkey replied merit is tied to personnel performance reviews and higher performers would receive more of the merit allocation.
Sturkey closed by noting the recommended budget book and packet would be posted to the county website and that staff will supply schedules and materials for the work sessions. The council advanced Ordinance 25‑08 (the annual budget) on first reading by title only; final readings and any adoption will follow completion of the scheduled work sessions.
