Dorchester County holds second public hearing on FY27 budget; work session set for May 14

The County Council of Dorchester County held a public hearing on Bill No. 2026-5, the FY2026–2027 Annual Budget & Appropriation Ordinance, during its May 12, 2026 open meeting. Irene Barnes, Executive Operations Manager, said this was the second of three opportunities for public comment on the budget, which would cover the July 1, 2026–June 30, 2027 fiscal year.

Council President George L. Pfeffer, Jr. opened the hearing and solicited public comment; none was offered and the hearing was closed without testimony. Earlier in the meeting Pfeffer reported the county’s General Fund operating cash on hand (allocated and unallocated) as $28,363,589.57, a figure council members heard ahead of budget deliberations.

County Manager Jerry Jones announced a Budget Work Session for May 14, 2026, at 5:00 p.m. to review proposed adjustments to the FY27 budget prior to a final public hearing and council consideration scheduled for May 19, 2026. The schedule leaves the Council with one remaining public hearing before final action.

The council handled routine business during the same meeting: it approved the Consent Agenda, including the Accounts Payable Disbursement Report for the week ending May 8, 2026, on a motion by Councilman Ricky C. Travers, seconded by Councilman Rob Kramer, Jr.; the vote on the consent motion was 4–0 with Councilman William V. Nichols absent. Procedural motions to adjourn into and out of Legislative Session were recorded as part of the meeting minutes but did not alter the schedule for the budget hearing.

The Council is scheduled to consider the FY27 budget formally on May 19, 2026 following the May 14 work session.