Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kershaw County Council approves FY2025-26 budget; ATAX awards, millage shift included
Summary
The council approved the county's fiscal 2025-26 budget on third reading after amendments that added ATAX grant recommendations and a revenue-neutral reallocation of one mill to fund personnel and insurance needs.
Kershaw County Council approved the fiscal 2025-26 budget on third reading Tuesday, adopting the county's spending plan and setting the millage after two council amendments and committee recommendations.
The council unanimously approved the first amendment to include the Atax (accommodations tax) committee's recommended grant awards; the committee chair presented a list of recommended recipients and funding amounts. Council also approved a second, revenue-neutral amendment proposed by Councilman Jared Tucker that shifted one mill from the county's debt service millage to the general fund to cover increased insurance costs, add an HR generalist position and a detention-center special operations lieutenant, and purchase contract software for budgeting and financial reporting.
Why it matters: the adopted budget sets county spending and property tax rates for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025. The ATAX grants support tourism and cultural programming. The millage reallocation does not raise taxes; it changes how existing tax levy proceeds are allocated between debt service and general operations.
What the council acted on: Beth Bridal, chair of the ATAX committee, told council the committee received 22 requests and recommended funding 19 projects, totaling $96,847, and that the committee did not recommend maintaining its usual 10% reserve this year because so many projects requested funding.
Councilman Tucker's amendment reallocating 1 mill was described as revenue neutral for taxpayers; Tucker said the change was necessary to address post-second-reading increases in insurance costs and to fund specific personnel and technology needs. The amendment passed on a 6-1 vote.
The final vote on the budget as amended was 5-2 in favor: Councilmen Derek Shoemake, Jared Tucker, Chairman Connell, Russell Cato and Brent Tomlinson voted yes; Councilmen Ben Bridal and Jimmy Jones voted no.
What's next: the budget becomes effective July 1, 2025. Staff will implement the changes, post final grant agreements and begin recruitment for authorized positions.
