Sumter County Council adopts FY2022–23 budget, approves $3.5M bond projects and advances sales-tax referendum to voters

Sumter County Council on June 14 unanimously approved the county’s FY2022–23 budget ordinance and granted third reading to several funding measures, including a $3.5 million general obligation bond package and ARPA-funded capital requests.

County Administrator Gary Mixon presented the budget and a list of capital priorities. Council granted third reading to Ordinance #22-974 authorizing up to $3.5 million in general obligation bonds with departmental allocations that included IT ($618,880), vehicles for sheriff and other departments ($729,612 and $532,676), public buildings ($506,661) and other capital items, totaling the recommended $3,500,000 for FY2023.

Council also granted third reading to Ordinance #22-973, the county budget ordinance for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2022. Mixon highlighted funding sources: $3,500,000 from capital bonds, $3,808,465 proposed from ARPA for capital requests (with broader ARPA totals listed including broadband and roads), road-user fees, a $1,000,000 use of fund balance and smaller allocations. Noted recurring costs in the adopted budget included a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for county employees, a projected 18% increase in health insurance, and a 1% increase in retirement costs.

The council advanced Ordinance #22-976 — a proposed one-percent capital projects sales-and-use tax tied to a countywide referendum and up to $40 million in GO bonds if approved by voters — to second reading after a public hearing that produced no speakers. Mixon presented estimated capital project costs (stated as $107,266,500 in his presentation with $40,000,000 in bonds included and a referenced total projected cost of $117,266,500).

On planning and land use, County Attorney Johnathan Bryan presented Ordinance #22-977 to create a utility easement on county property on West Wesmark Boulevard to permit Farmers Telephone Company to locate a cell tower; council granted first reading and Bryan said a detailed survey and information about underground power-line locations would be provided at second reading.

Vice Chairman James R. Byrd reported Internal Affairs Committee recommendations to reappoint and appoint members to multiple boards and commissions; council unanimously approved reappointments and new appointments for entities including the Airport Commission, Development Board, Library Board and others.

All recorded motions on June 14 were carried unanimously per the meeting minutes. The meeting concluded after the regularly scheduled agenda items, with no public speakers during the public-comment period and an adjournment at 7:23 p.m.