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Richmond County board reviews FY27 budget tweaks, CIP priorities and new transit seed funding
Summary
County staff proposed several FY27 adjustments — restoring two $7,500 grants, boosting the ambulance fund to $100,000 and a one‑year $10,000 penalty contribution — and outlined CIP priorities including phone/website upgrades, courthouse roof work and a seed line for an extra transit vehicle; the board scheduled a public hearing for April 23.
Staff member (speaker 1) presented a revised FY27 budget and an adjustment summary and walked the board through proposed changes, saying the plan reflects follow‑ups from earlier discussions and input from staff.
The staff recommendation would return Healthy Harvest and the Boys & Girls Club grants to $7,500 each, increase the ambulance fund by $25,000 to $100,000 and set a one‑year penalty contribution at $10,000 with the expectation FY28 funding would revert to normal levels. "The changes that I have made are return Healthy Harvest back to 7,500 that matches the contribution from FY26," the staff member said.
The presentation included updated transit figures for planning: a half bus would cost $23,885 and a full bus $47,070.71 based on this year’s numbers, and staff noted an assumed 3% annual rise in transportation costs.
Why it matters: the adjustments aim to reflect recent cost changes and build contingency for public safety and transit needs while moving several capital projects forward.
Board discussion focused on public safety staffing, equipment and the CIP list. Committee members asked for a review of sheriff's overtime and vehicle needs after recent hiring, with one member urging staff to "pull overtime calls…through this today's date and kinda see where it is." The board also flagged EMS staffing concerns and the operational strain when part‑time coverage is limited.
On capital projects, staff highlighted IT and communications items (county phone project estimated at about $40,000 and a website/portal replacement at $25,000), a sheriff's office battery refresh (intended to be covered by grants), cameras and a door‑access/lock system (staff estimated $100,000) to increase security at the courthouse and sheriff's office, and a $100,000 allowance for courthouse roof repair. Staff said HVAC failures are unpredictable and recommended budgeting $40,000 per year to cover replacements when needed.
Staff reviewed the CIP balance and recent transactions: the latest transmittal from Christy showed the fund balance, and staff noted about $192,053.34 was used to buy radios (to be reimbursed from solar‑siding funds), which staff said would leave an estimated available balance of $384,004.04 for the highlighted projects. A separate $300,000 payment from the Mulberry battery storage project will arrive once the developer secures a permit; staff said the board can decide whether to split that between CIP and economic development or direct it to courthouse/admin building projects.
Transit funding: Chair (speaker 5) suggested establishing a dedicated line item to start saving for another transit vehicle, proposing a modest seed amount this year — "even $5,000…would be a start" — so the county would not have to find one lump sum when a request arrives. Board members agreed it was prudent to begin reserving funds given ridership growth.
Next steps: staff will finalize the FY27 adjustments, continue pursuing grant opportunities to offset CIP costs and advertise the public hearing (the board later voted to set it for April 23 at 7:00 p.m.).
The board closed the budget discussion and moved on to other business.
