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Horry County adopts FY2026 budget; volunteer firefighter pay raised to $25 per call
Summary
Council passed Ordinance 309-2025 to adopt the fiscal‑year 2026 budget and approved an amendment increasing volunteer firefighter pay from $20 to $25 per call. A public commenter asked for the coroner's budget to be made available for review.
On second reading the Horry County council approved Ordinance 309‑2025 to raise revenue, make appropriations and adopt the county budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026. Council discussion included and approved an amendment to raise volunteer firefighter pay from $20 to $25 per call; the amendment was moved, seconded and folded into the ordinance before the council voted.
During the public hearing on the budget, commenter Vince Lohotzke asked for visibility into the county coroner's budget and raised questions about committee compensation and perceived changes in who serves on county committees since a prior ordinance authorized pay. Lohotzke said he would like to see the coroner's budget before the next budget reading and suggested that committee pay had altered participation. "I would like to see the county coroner's budget before the next reading of the county budget," he said.
After the public comment period, the council returned to the motion as amended. The vote count included one recorded nay during the final call but the ordinance passed on second reading as amended; the meeting transcript does not record roll‑call names or a final yes count. The transcript records the amendment and that the ordinance moved forward.
Next steps: The ordinance proceeds as adopted per the council vote recorded at the meeting; staff and the public may follow up on the coroner's budget request in subsequent budget hearings or packet material.
