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Sumter County Council approves FY2022-23 budget with one-mill offset and capital spending plan
Summary
Council approved the FY2022-23 budget (Ordinance 22-973) including a one-mill increase offset by fund balance, personnel cost increases (3% COLA, 18% health insurance rise), and capital allocations from bonds, ARPA and fund balance.
Mr. Gary Mixon presented the proposed FY2022-23 budget ordinance to Sumter County Council, detailing revenue and expenditure projections and capital requests. Mixon said the budget included a one-mill increase (described as offset by LOST credit and fund balance), $508,313 in fund balance use, and $8,684,836 of capital requests funded through a mix of a proposed $3.5 million general obligation bond, $3,808,465 of ARPA funds, $1 million of reimbursable fund balance, and smaller line items for infrastructure and road user funds.
Mixon described personnel and benefits increases: an 18% increase in health insurance ($465,158), a 1% retirement increase ($232,430), and a proposed 3% cost-of-living adjustment for county employees ($881,601). He also listed ARPA priorities that included roughly $2.69 million for water utility infrastructure, $1 million for broadband infrastructure and $2.5 million for roads.
During the public hearing Dr. Brenda Williams urged the council to include investments addressing safety and access on South and North Pike Roads and Graham Highway, raising the issue of a local “food desert” and the need for nearby grocery or convenience retail. Council discussion included Councilman Baten’s concern that a uniform 3% COLA may not be sufficient given inflation; he recommended considering larger raises targeted to employees earning under $50,000.
Councilman Baker moved to grant second reading to the budget ordinance; Vice Chairman Byrd seconded and Council unanimously approved Ordinance 22-973 on second reading.
The ordinance as granted on second reading funds the proposed capital request package described by Mixon and authorizes the county to proceed consistent with the budget as adopted at this meeting. No changes to the millage rate were recorded beyond the presented one-mill increase and offset explanation in the minutes.
