Wednesday evening was the time for elected county officials to voice their concerns over the county budget. But none of them said a word or made any additional requests.

With the adjustments made this week, the proposed budget stands at $22.2 million—roughly $200,000 less than last year’s.

However, the Opera House board did make a financial request.

Opera House Executive Director Deborah Smith said they would take any amount offered from the county budget but would be “ecstatic with $25,000.“

Opera House Board Chair Jim Wiseman, who served on Newberry City Council for 10 years, said without the county’s financial support the Opera House “might have to close down.“

As with many businesses, the Opera House is struggling from reduced sales during the economic downturn.

Smith says the 2008 year began with above-average ticket sales, but when the economy hit hard times in October, ticket sales at the Opera House also fell. For the last quarter of the year, sales bottomed out and left the local entertainment venue without extra capital to fall back on.

Smith told County Council that the Opera House spends $100,000 annually to promote Newberry County through advertisements.

Also, in 1997 when the revitalization of the Opera House and downtown began the assessed value of the property in the special tax or TIF district around the Opera House was $10,800. In 2008 the property value rose to $776,450.

The increase in property values has also increased the tax value. In 1997 the county operations received $613.44 from the area and the school, special education and debt taxes collected $3,240 from the area.

With the creation of the TIF district the taxes collected from the area goes into a special fund to pay off downtown improvements and the refurbishing of the Opera House.

Today the TIF district collects what would be equal to $109,712 in county operation taxes and $315,240 for school, special education and debt taxes.

Councilman Les Hipp noted that when the TIF district reverts back to normal tax distributions in 2013 that the increase in taxes would be well worth a donation to the Opera House.

“We have added value to Newberry City, Newberry County and the Midlands,“ said Smith.

Hipp also added that more than 400 volunteers donate time annually to the Opera House.

The $25,000 allocation was added to the county budget for the Opera House to use for operations.

County Administrator Wayne Adams reminded the council that the figure was in the budget, but the budget was not final.

Debt reduction

Due to the county paying off some debts, the county’s debt service (amount needed to pay off loans) decreased by 5.4 mills. This could result in a $21 savings on an owner-occupied home valued at $100,000.

However, County Council could elect to use the money to add to county savings, extra income or for a purpose.

Rescue squads and EMS

Rescue squads around the county requested new equipment and vehicles totaling $1.3 million. But the budget proposed by county administration has $228,845 for new equipment and vehicles.

Last year, County Council voted to purchase four ambulances for EMS each year, and after the first year the ambulances would be rotated to the rescue squad to replace old ambulances. With budget cuts, the county will be purchasing just two new ambulances.

County Council Chair Henry “Buddy“ Livingston asked for a report of the number of calls answered by a new nighttime EMS unit put in the Prosperity area last year. Council stated the call volume answered by the unit would be reviewed during this budget.

Under discussion is the possibility of the county charging for calls and transports done by the rescue calls. The charge would be much less than those answered by EMS, and be levied to cover the cost of fuel, supplies and equipment.

Rescue and ambulance service issues will be discussed at Wednesday’s meeting.

Fire departments

The county volunteer firefighters put in requests topping $3 million, including $2 million for eight new fire pumper trucks. The budget was reduced by the administration to $615,170.

Recycling center

Funding for a new recycling center to replace the one on Dixie Drive has been struck from the working budget, but the county will still purchase containers to reduce waste cost.

This change decreases the budget from $284,185 to $111,500.

Maybinton ballfield

The project started with $80,000 from the penny sales tax, and grew to $223,601.

Elimination of many extras such as lighting, irrigation, bleachers, dugouts and a decrease in the restroom facilities have resulted in bringing the cost down to $146,100.

Assessor’s office

The Assessor’s office requested $1,200 to purchase pants, shirts and jackets for assessors to wear while doing property reassessments. Council asked for figures on purchasing vests for the crew.

Capital improvements

Adams asked County Council to begin working on a five-year capital improvement plan, and to consider deals available in the current construction market.

Nursing home

The council approved spending $37,000 on a new security system at Springfield Place to hopefully cut down on residents eloping from the facility. The new system should be installed in a couple of weeks. The money will come from the current budget.

The facility is still paying fines stemming from its handling of an elopement and Department of Health and Environment Control infractions in its skilled care unit. The fines revert back to Feb. 20. The county is setting aside $100,000 to pay for the fines, but is lobbying state legislators to get the fines reduced or cancelled.

The facility is still not able to take in new Medicare or Medicaid patients in its skilled care unit.

The facilities assisted living facility at Springfield Place is also scheduled for a DHEC inspection.

County resident Lou Neiger questioned County Council if it should not consider selling the facilities and getting the property back on the tax rolls.