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Edgefield County reviews FY 2027 draft budget, staff recommends $140 annual solid-waste fee
Summary
At a March 10 workshop, Edgefield County officials reviewed a draft FY 2027 budget that funds a 2.5% cost-of-living increase, a step/merit pay program and capital purchases; Administrator Mr. Cadell recommended raising the annual solid-waste fee from $100 to $140 to cover rising tipping and operating costs.
Edgefield County officials reviewed their draft fiscal year 2027 general operating and special revenue budgets at a budget workshop on March 10, 2026, where Administrator Mr. Cadell outlined proposed employee pay increases, several capital investments and a staff recommendation to raise the county's annual solid-waste fee from $100 to $140.
Mr. Cadell told the council the budget includes a 2.5% cost-of-living increase for all employees, an average 0.5% merit pool and an eight-year step program designed to move employees hired at the minimum of a pay band to the midpoint over eight years. "We have included a minimum 2.5% cost of living increase in this year's budget," he said. The draft also continues a 401(k) employer match, capped at $1,200 per participating employee, and proposes one additional human-resources position to support recruitment and retention.
Why it matters: county officials said recent residential growth has increased demand for services even as some state actions reduce local revenue. Mr. Cadell cited a state reduction in boat property taxes that he said will lower county revenue by about $65,000. The draft budgets rely on audited reserves and projected revenues; the memo lists unrestricted reserves of 7,377,489 and an $18,549,177 general fund operating budget. (A figure for the planned designation from reserves is unclear in the transcript and will be confirmed in follow-up materials.)
On solid-waste fees, Mr. Cadell recommended the increase to $140 to offset rising costs: "This is a significant increase, but $140 to dispose of all of your household trash for a year is still an incredible deal compared to some sections of the state," he said. Staff cited higher payments to the Tri County Solid Waste Authority, repair needs at the tipping floor and increased tonnage fees at Three Rivers Landfill as drivers that are pushing the solid-waste fund toward a negative balance.
Capital and operational items in the draft include a $340,000 motor grader purchase, with an expected $160,000 FEMA reimbursement and proceeds from surplus-equipment sales covering part of the cost; a proposed impact-fee ordinance for the Merryweather and county-line areas to primarily fund an EMS substation and recurring ambulance replacements; and a standalone opioid-settlement budget using $173,760 in guaranteed settlement funds.
Other notable items: a recommended transfer of $62,342 from the general fund to the victim's bill-of-rights fund to support sheriff's office victim assistance; a solicitor's office request for a 32.5% budget increase (staff recommended 5% and will meet with the office); and a request from ABBE libraries to consider moving library employees into the county workforce — a proposal Mr. Cadell said will require further analysis because ABBE pay grades differ from county paygrades.
Process and next steps: workshop discussion and questions continued through a page-by-page review of the 108-page budget packet. The administrator emphasized this meeting is a workshop and that no formal votes are taken on the draft: "We do not vote on any topic," he said. Council members may ask staff to make changes before the budget's first reading in April if there is council consensus. The workshop concluded with a motion to adjourn, which passed unanimously.
