Sumter County Council approves FY2024–25 budget, $3.5M bond and multiple rezonings; penny sales-tax referendum gets first reading

Sumter County Council on Tuesday approved the county’s fiscal 2024–25 operating budget, granted second‑reading approval to a $3.5 million general obligation bond for capital purchases, and approved two rezoning requests. The council also gave first reading to a proposed one‑percent Capital Project Sales and Use Tax referendum and deferred an ordinance amendment on zoning variances.

Chairman James T. McCain, Jr. called the meeting to order and, after routine approvals of the agenda and minutes, Council heard constituent concerns about Kangaroo Lane; County Administrator Gary Mixon said staff will meet residents and review any new written materials and the item will appear on the June 11 agenda for further consideration.

On the budget, Mixon outlined the process used to prepare the FY2024–25 proposal and said projected revenues were $62,196,306 against proposed expenditures of $62,601,096, a gap the county planned to cover with General Fund balance. During the meeting, Council amended the budget to add $24,960 for a half‑time position in the Veterans Affairs Office; the amendment was approved and included in the final ordinance. After amendments, the adopted budget shows expenditures of $62,626,056 and a planned use of $429,750 from reserve funds. The council granted second reading to Ordinance 24‑1003 on a motion by Vice Chairman James R. Byrd, Jr., seconded by Councilman Charles T. Edens; Councilmen Carlton B. Washington and Eugene R. Baten recorded abstentions.

A separate motion to fund two new paralegals for the Solicitor’s Office at an annual cost of $110,720—moved by Councilman Carlton B. Washington and seconded by Councilman Eugene R. Baten—failed on a 3–4 voice/show‑of‑hands vote (Washington, Baten, and Councilwoman Vivian Fleming McGhaney in favor; Artie Baker, Byrd, Edens, and McCain opposed).

County Administrator Mixon also presented Ordinance 24‑1002 authorizing the issuance of up to $3.5 million in general obligation bonds to fund department capital needs. The item included a line‑by‑line capital list for parks, IT, public buildings, vehicles and other equipment; after the public hearing, Council granted second reading approval to the bond ordinance on a motion by Councilman Artie Baker, seconded by Vice Chairman Byrd.

In land‑use business, Planning Director Helen Roodman presented two second‑reading rezoning requests. RZ‑24‑06 (3520 & 3580 Thomas Sumter Highway) rezoned approximately 1.98 acres from Agricultural Conservation to General Commercial; the Planning Commission recommended approval and Council approved second reading (Councilman Charles T. Edens recused himself and did not vote). RZ‑24‑07 (1033 Boulevard Rd., and 408–410 E. Red Bay Rd.) rezoned about 0.88 acres to Neighborhood Commercial to accommodate a prospective used‑car sales business; Council approved second reading as presented.

Council considered OA‑24‑03, an amendment intended to prohibit the Sumter City‑County Board of Zoning Appeals from granting variances to certain Special Design Criteria for hazardous or potentially disruptive uses. Planning staff recommended the change and the Planning Commission favored it, but Council deferred second reading to June 11 to allow staff to provide additional information.

Under New Business, the Capital Project Sales Tax Commission presented Ordinance 24‑1004, which would place a one‑percent sales‑and‑use tax referendum on the November ballot and authorize up to $40 million in bonds if the tax is approved. The CPST commission chair, Earl Wilson, reviewed a ranked project list totaling $124,900,000 that includes emergency radio upgrades, county and city fire trucks, a large county paving program (including 18.34 miles of dirt‑road paving and 7.07 miles of resurfacing), park and downtown improvements, and industrial site work. Vice Chairman Byrd moved and Councilman Edens seconded first reading approval; Council granted first reading unanimously. Chairman McCain emphasized that the list was compiled by the Commission and that final approval of the tax rests with county voters in November.

County Attorney Johnathan Bryan presented Ordinance 24‑1005 to approve a 25‑foot ingress and egress easement adjacent to Frierson Road required after a planned property conveyance related to a new fire station; Council granted second reading approval.

Public comment included questions from Myra Washington about procurement practices and past equipment purchases, Dr. Alexandra Baten calling for consideration of an ordinance to prohibit shooting in residential areas, and a resident seeking clarification about council votes on paralegals and athletic facilities. Chairman McCain and staff offered to meet with commenters after the meeting for follow‑up.

The meeting concluded with routine committee reports and an adjournment at 7:09 p.m.

Votes at a glance: • RZ‑24‑06 (rezoning 3520 & 3580 Thomas Sumter Hwy.) — Approved on second reading; Edens recused. • RZ‑24‑07 (1033 Boulevard Rd., 408–410 E. Red Bay Rd.) — Approved on second reading. • OA‑24‑03 (zoning variance/BOA authority) — Second reading deferred to June 11 for more staff information. • Ordinance 24‑1002 (GO Bonds, Series 2024, up to $3.5M) — Approved on second reading. • Ordinance 24‑1003 (FY2024–25 budget) — Approved on second reading as amended; Washington and Baten abstained. • Motion to fund two Solicitor paralegals ($110,720) — Motion failed (3 in favor, 4 opposed). • Ordinance 24‑1004 (1% Capital Project Sales & Use Tax referendum) — Granted first reading (unanimous). • Ordinance 24‑1005 (ingress/egress easement adjacent to Frierson Road) — Approved on second reading.

Next steps and context: OA‑24‑03 will return to the Land Use Committee and then County Council on June 11 with additional staff information; the Capital Project Sales Tax referendum will proceed through first‑reading procedure and (if Council proceeds) appear on the November 2024 ballot for voter approval. Council and staff committed to meet with Kangaroo Lane residents and to provide written follow‑up where requested.