Draft county budget includes 3 percent pay increase

$1.3 million appropriated from fund balance in draft budget
3 percent increases likely in solid waste, water fees

By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com

* Draft budget

County Manager Rick Sago told the Board of Richmond County Commissioners about this time last year during the annual budget process that borrowing from the fund balance is an “unsustainable approach.”

But it’s the only way Sago could close a significant portion of the roughly $3 million gap between funds requested of county departments and projected revenue for next year’s budget. The Fiscal Year 2016 budget, which begins July 1, nears $50 million.

county_logoSago will have one final opportunity to discuss budget options beginning at 3 p.m. Tuesday during a budget work session on the second floor of the county administrative office on South Hancock Street. The meeting is open to the public. The commissioners will convene a public hearing on the draft budget that same day beginning at 5:30 p.m.

The proposed $49,994,945 general fund budget is nearly $1.6 million more than this year’s budget. Highlights include a 3 percent salary increase for all full-time county workers, a paid health clinic for county employees and paid days off for employee birthdays.

Sago stated in his report to the commissioners, to be presented Tuesday, those efforts help recruit and retain quality workers and keep lower the county’s health insurance rates.

Sago also proposes 3 percent increases in solid waste (residential and commercial) and water fees, in part to keep up with the cost of water chemicals and fuel costs.

 

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  • Joe Deberry

    Giving these workers a raise is needed but to pay for birthdays off is another way for this county to throw good money in the trash. Sago you have no Idea how to do your job, to keep this stupid wasteful spending you all do has got to stop. Hope we get some better politicians in 2016 and most of you will be fired and as the city council and mayor has got to go.

  • Allison

    Throw good money in the trash? Keeping quality employees happy and feeling like they are appreciated goes a long way. I vote yes!

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