The Dillon County Council approved their budget with a four mill increase and a $10 increase in the fire service fee at a called meeting of council on Monday, August 13th.
A public hearing on the budget was held at the beginning of the meeting. Six people signed up to speak, but only three offered comments.
Ronald Crawford was the first to speak. He spoke about demolition, trash pickup, and the Sheriff. “We want stuff in Newtown,” he said. “We got stuff tabled, thrown around, passed over, and never get an answer. We never get anything done.” Chairman Stevie Grice told Crawford that as far as the Sheriff, they can’t tell him what to do because he is an elected official.
Nancy Hargrove spoke and had complaints about the Sheriff. “If we pay taxes, we expect service too,” she said also referring to the Newtown area.
Sadie Campbell spoke about trash pickup in Newtown.
Later in the meeting, the third reading of the budget was held. A motion to approve the third reading was made by Councilman Harold moody, and seconded by Councilman Gerome McLeod. Discussion followed.
Councilman James “Hoghead” Campbell said he was still opposed to the fire tax fee rate increase and the four mill increase in taxes. He said they have low income and fixed income people out there, and they were getting ready their fees and taxes.
“I said in the last meeting, and I will say it again. The budget is less than $100,000 short, and there is no reason fore us to raise these people’s taxes, and we don’t have to,” said Campbell.
Campbell said we have ways and means of funding $100,000. He said the two percent raise they gave to the employees amounted to $180,000.
Councilman Archie Scott said he opposed, along with Councilman Campbell, any increase in taxes. he said Dillon County was a rural community with many working people and people trying to provide for their families. “I see a tax increase being an extra burden on taxpayers and not just that, I don’t see any savings anywhere in the budget,” Scott said.
Scott said if they didn’t put some money back in reserves then they were going to be here next year trying to raise taxes again. He said he opposed the tax increase.
Councilman Harold Moody said in the past this council has not made budgets, they have been put together. He said they have bought equipment that wasn’t really necessary. He said people were hired that weren’t really necessary. He said raises were given to people that weren’t necessary and not equal to the county as a whole. He said one of the reasons they were in this situation are things beyond their control such as increases in insurance, increases in workmen’s comp benefits, and increases in retirement benefits.
Moody said they have only had a two-mill increase in seven years.
“I am not wild about taxes either, but you don’t have money, you have two choices—cut or put some mills on,” said Moody.
“Now I want to know which county employee or which person is going to step forward and ask for a pay cut or to forfeit their job today,” Moody said.
Moody said that they were down to “skin and bones.”
“If we are going to lay people off, hey, we can balance the budget,” said Moody. “Start giving me the names. I’ll listen to you. Tell me who you want to lay off and who will take a pay out.”
“I disagree with you,” said Campbell. “You don’t necessarily have to lay people off to cut the budget.”
Moody then commented about inflation, light bills, etc. Moody said if they obey the budget, the budget will float. he said if they don’t obey the budget and keep spending, this ship is going to sink.
After further discussion, Interim Administrator Lisa Gray noted that they are not dipping into the reserve fund. She said things were starting to level out, and they could get the reserve built up. She said they would know more.
The budget passed in a 4-3 vote. Voting in favor of the budget was Councilman Harold Moody, Councilman Gerome McLeod, Chairman Stevie Grice, and Councilman T.F. “Buzzy” Finklea, Jr. Voting against the budget were Councilman Archie Scott, Councilman James Campbell, and Councilman Jack Scott.