Camden County staff present $51.2 million proposed 2027 budget with $2.4 million gap

County staff presented a proposed 2027 budget showing about $48 million in projected revenues and roughly $51.2 million in proposed expenditures, leaving an estimated $2.4 million gap that the board must close before final adoption.

Lisa, the county presenter, said the budget includes a 5% pay‑scale adjustment for fire rescue, the sheriff's patrol division, school resource deputies, corrections/jail staff and E‑911 personnel, plus performance-based increases up to 2.5% on employee anniversaries. The coroner position is budgeted to move from part‑time to full‑time, she said. Lisa also identified a proposed $500,000 increase related to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the county Joint Development Authority (JDA).

The presentation listed proposed transfers of $1.7 million to capital improvements and $714,000 to E‑911 supplemental funding. Lisa said the county received final insurance quotes that will lower property, equipment and liability costs by nearly $400,000 and that total capital expenditures across funds are estimated at about $5.4 million, with SPLOST 9 at $2.1 million and remaining ARPA funds shown as $144,000. She described a net increase in total budgeted activity from about $86.6 million last year to about $87.3 million this year, an increase she called $716,000.

The presenter said the budget calendar includes one remaining special called meeting to adopt the annual budget on June 23 at 6:00 p.m. No board questions were raised before the hearing moved to public comment.

The public hearing is an opportunity for residents to speak for up to three minutes on the proposed plan; the board will consider final adoption at the scheduled meeting.

Ending: The hearing was opened for public comment and is scheduled for final adoption at the June 23 special called meeting.