The $21.3 million budget currently includes no tax increases for property owners, and no salary increases for employees. Employees will also have to pick up fees for additional insurance coverage above the basic rate.
But many questions remain unanswered about the budget.
A big contender is whether council will choose to cut one of three nighttime EMS ambulance shifts. Another controversial issue is whether council will force rescue squads to start charging for transporting patients.
Both of these decisions remain unanswered and could change the budget numbers by at least $100,000 each.
Due to paying off a debt, the amount of money the county will need to pay on loans next year will decrease several mills. The question remains to be seen if taxpayers will see the reduction reflected on tax bills or if the council will find projects to use this money on.
Also, council is discussing more than $1 million in maintenance needs at the courthouse, Clemson Extension building, old library, recycling center, public works maintenance building, community hall, the jail and the Whitmire library. No plan of action has been determined.
Council also approved second reading for the special education budget of $775,151. The budget includes money for Piedmont Technical College, Disabilities and Special Needs and operational money for the library.
In other business:
• Council approved a bid of $29,433 to build an addition onto the Chappells Fire and Rescue building.
The addition will house a new ambulance the department obtained through a grant.
Dixie Pole Buildings received the low bid out of four bids ranging up to $57,600.
The council and Dixie Pole owner Greg Dominick debated the bid.
Dominick told council that he did not think the facility needed steel concrete reinforcing wire that would add $550 to the cost.
Councilman and contractor Edgar Baker agreed, saying the wire would not prevent cracking, and said he would rather see Dominick use less expensive mesh wire.
Dominick also stated that as a taxpayer he did not see why the county needed to pay another $1,400 for him to get a performance bond when he would not be paid for the work until it was finished. He added it could be a month after he finished the building before he could get paid for the work.
The council was persuaded and elected against the reinforcing wire and the performance bond, bringing the final cost of $29,433.
• Third reading was given to rezone 1.26 acres on Highway 121 between Wilson Road and I-26 from rural to general commercial. This is the old B.J. Graphics property.
• First reading was given to continue to lease the old armory to Piedmont Technical College for five years for $1 a year.
• First reading was given to rezone an acre on Highway 76 from rural to light industrial for the expansion of Metal Masters.
• First reading was given to rezone 2.37 acres on C.R. Koon Highway from single-family residential to general commercial. The county had received a complaint about the property housing an auto repair business. The business was temporarily closed due to it not conforming to zoning. The property is near Colony Church Road.
• Council voted to spend less than $20,000 to patch and recoat the dome roof on Piedmont Technical College.
• Kevin Atkins was appointed to the Westview Behaviorial Health Services Board and Martha Waller was reappointed to the board of zoning appeals.
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