Marlboro County Council adopts FY 2026 budget, approves five-year capital plan

Marlboro County Council on June 10 approved second reading of Ordinance #865, adopting the county's annual budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2025, and Ordinance #866, which approves the county's capital improvement plan for FY 2026—FY 2030.

Dr. Damien Johnson moved to approve the second reading of the budget ordinance and Mr. Steve Blackmon seconded. The budget measure passed on a 5-2 vote: Charles P. Midgley Jr., Dr. Damien Johnson, Anthony Woods, Lafeyette Jackson and Steve Blackmon voted in favor; Pearly Lawson and Jason Steen opposed; Verd Odom was absent.

The capital improvement plan drew the same 5-2 vote pattern and also passed on second reading. Finance Director Wes Park told the council the county expects general fund revenues of $12,997,210 for the 11 months ending May 31, 2025, with expenditures of $14,294,312 year to date (96.92% of the $14,748,543 budget). Park said staff now expects to use about $1.5 million of the county's fund balance for the fiscal year (the adopted budget assumed $1,178,943). With a current fund balance of about $7.2 million, the projected drawdown to $5.7 million would equate to roughly four months of expenditures.

Council members discussed the budget during deliberations but the transcript records only general conversation rather than extended floor statements. Dr. Johnson made the motion to approve and Mr. Blackmon seconded; the measures passed as recorded.

The ordinances take effect for the fiscal year starting July 1, 2025. County staff said final year-end audited figures will be available after the close of the fiscal year and the subsequent annual audit, likely November or December.