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New Camden County CFO flags $3.8 million operating gap and asks commissioners for cuts and priorities
Summary
Camden County’s new CFO, Lisa Lynch, presented a preliminary operating budget showing roughly $3.8 million more in department requests than projected revenues and urged commissioners to help identify cuts; staff proposed a 2.5% across‑the‑board pay increase (5% proposed for sheriff/fire) and warned one‑time ARPA and FEMA funds are ending.
Lisa Lynch, Camden County’s new chief financial officer, told the Board of Commissioners at a budget work session that departmental requests for the coming fiscal year total about $51,000,004.82 while preliminary projected revenues total $47,631,827, leaving approximately a $3.8 million operating shortfall. Lynch said digest numbers are not final and staff used a conservative 3% ad valorem estimate in projecting revenues.
"We've been working diligently…to put together a budget for you," Lynch said, noting she has been on the job about 30 days and that staff met with each department several times. She described the presentation as a draft that compares departments’ requested totals with staff reductions made after meetings, and asked commissioners for input on additional cuts.
Lynch highlighted several drivers of the gap: lower sales tax collections so far this year compared with budgeted estimates, the end of one‑time pandemic and disaster funds (including ARPA and FEMA allocations), and rising operating costs such as insurance and payroll. She said the county previously relied on exceptional federal funds that “you can't replace,” citing about $10 million of pandemic‑era funding that boosted recent years’ revenues.
On pay, staff recommended a 2.5% general employee increase and noted requests from the sheriff’s office and fire rescue for higher raises; the sheriff’s patrol requested 7.5% and staff proposed 5% for public‑safety units. Lynch also listed department‑level increases, including contract and supply changes in public safety and a recurring $500,000 MOU payment to the Joint Development Authority.
Lynch urged the board to avoid routine draws on fund balance and said final fund‑balance figures will not be available until the fiscal year closes on June 30. She asked commissioners to review the materials, requested that staff provide the original uncut budget request alongside staff reductions, and scheduled follow‑up budget work sessions (capital expenditures to be discussed at the next meeting and an additional work session May 18 if needed).
The board did not take any formal votes during the session; Lynch said staff will return with capital proposals and any additional revenue updates.
What happens next: staff will present capital expenditures at the next work session, circulate the original versus cut budgets for board review, and hold legally required public hearings and advertising in June as part of the adoption process.
