Budget increase proposed for Lexington County

By CLIF LeBLANC - cleblanc@thestate.com

The price tag for running most of Lexington County government next year would rise about $7.5 million to $95 million should council adopt the proposed 2008-09 general fund budget.

Council gave adminstrator Katherine Hubbard’s fiscal plan an initial vote last week.

But members usually whittle that proposal into a trimmer version by the time a final vote is taken in June. The new fiscal year begins July 1.

The $94.9 million plan contains $4 million in new programs, Hubbard said, and asks council to take almost $2 million from its reserves for three big ticket, one-time projects:

• $750,000 for a pilot program to use cheaper materials to build or resurface roads

• $600,000 to install a new roof on a county auxiliary administration building on Sunset Boulevard; and

• $250,000 for a firefighter training facility

Hubbard later submitted her proposed $54.7 million budget, called the “non general fund,” to pay for the rest of county government.

The money for the proposed boost in the general fund, which covers most but not all of county government, comes largely from a 2.8 percent rise for inflation and 2 percent increase in population, she said.

As usual, the single most expensive arm of county government is the Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff James Metts is asking for $32.7 million. He is the only elected official in the county to be funded separately. He also has greater control of the money once council adopts his budget.

The next largest item is $22.5 million for other public safety functions such as fire, ambulance, central communications and animal services.

Other large proposed spending includes:

• Council and county administration: $12.3 million;

• Public works: $8.9 million;

• Courts and prosecutors: $8.4 million.

The biggest part of Hubbard’s non-general fund budget recommendation include:

• $12.8 million to cover a range of services from the major fund for road paving and the operation of the 911 emergency dispatch center to spending tourism income.

• $11.7 million to operate county waste disposal programs.

• $6.8 million to run the library system.

• $5.7 million to finance school resource deputies, crossing guards, substance-abuse programs and courthouse security.

Reach LeBlanc at (803) 771-8664.