4/12/07

Shortfall
Thanks to tax cap, council faces service cuts
By Cathy Gilbert

While no Clarendon County Council member looks forward to raising taxes, in prior years the goal was to provide maximum county services with minimal increases in taxes.

But thanks to a 2006 state law limiting the increases in property taxes – the main source of income for counties – to the Consumer Price Index (CPI) factor, council members this year are faced with making possible cuts in services to balance the budget.

“The budget you have before you assumes the maximum tax increase allowed,” said County Controller Lynden Anthony during his first presentation of the budget to Council for fiscal year 2007-2008. The Clarendon County CPI factor is 3.487 percent.

“There have been no adjustments to any of the requests from elected officials although the 25 percent pay increase from Sheriff Keith Josey is not included,” he continued.

Anthony also reminded Council that they must also tax for the county’s debt service, the fire department and library, both of which are special tax districts that are capped as well.
“We are faced with a much different situation than in the past,” Anthony explained. “Our ad valorem taxing capability is capped. We must make cuts for this deficit. We cannot raise taxes to cover our needs.”
At the first reading, the budget was $849,289 out of balance, meaning that amount of proposed expenditures would have to be cut.
Notable items of the budget included a $65,000 increase in landfill operations, a $174,000 increase in EMS services and nearly $1.1 million in capital expenditures.
Some of those capital expenditures must be addressed, such as fleet replacement in the Sheriff’s department ($228,000), purchase of land at the Hwy. 527 megasite ($150,000) and re-wiring of J.C. Britton Park ($25,000).
Several departments are asking for additional staff: the magistrate’s office requests an additional clerk to handle increased ticket volume; the sheriff requests four additional patrol deputies and four additional investigators and the coroner requests a full-time secretary. These requests, plus benefits and needed vehicles and equipment in the sheriff’s department account for approximately $681,000.
A lengthy and tedious process, the Council will again address the budget at its May 14 meeting and asked County Administrator Bill Houser to come up with a list of possible cuts to reduce or eliminate the deficit.
In other council business:
Council passed on third reading an ordinance to create a one percent hospitality tax on prepared foods and beverages. Monies collected from this tax will be earmarked for cultural and recreational projects such as the rehabilitation of Weldon Auditorium.
Council approved on first reading an ordinance to establish county fire service for the town of Summerton as a special taxing district. The town of Turbeville is currently served by the County Fire Department in a like fashion.
The Council voted to allow Chairman Dwight Stewart to sign a memorandum of agreement to participate in the Santee-Lynches Regional Council of Government HUD/HOME project which administers state and federal funds for low-income housing rehabilitation.
Council passed on third reading an ordinance to rezone three parcels of land in the White Oak area from single family residential, to multi-family residential, paving the way for the development of condominiums in the lakeside community.
Chairman Dwight Stewart issued two proclamations. The first declared April 15-21 as National Library Week and the second declared April 22-28 as National County Government Week.