$1.3 million appropriated from fund balance in draft budget
3 percent increases likely in solid waste, water fees
By Kevin Spradlin
PeeDeePost.com
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.
Sago 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.