As Anderson County passes budget, bonds could later pay for new jail, chairman says

Anderson County is a few days away from using its new budget while accounting for increased fuel costs, inflation and inventory costs.

County Council vice-chairman Brett Sanders has been the county's finance chairman for three years.

After a year that brought higher fuel rates and inflation, Sanders was happy to see no tax increases, as he has the last three years.

"In Anderson County, we haven't really experienced the same economic hit as a national budget or a national economy," he said.

But personal costs that impact everyday residents in ways like carpooling or eating out less is the same mindset of the county as they work around inflation rates and inventory costs.

Economic development continues to be a strong revenue source, Sanders said, and if the economy slows, they're already crafting the 2024 budget to account for that.

Potential budget for new jail

The Anderson County Detention Center has been overcrowded, under-funded and outdated with conditions that several county officials and jail directors since the 1970s have called "inhumane."

In-depth look: Director plans for new jail within five years as overcrowding peaks

The county is working on affording a new jail without a tax increase, Sanders said.

"We've got to act now," Sanders said. "We don't want the state or federal government to come in and build something that doesn't fit our needs or Sheriff's Department."

The county wants to control the costs and work them through their own budget, he said.

The jail is an overcrowded safety concern, Sanders said. The county is creating a board to determine what exactly is needed but he thinks payment would be through bonds.

Estimates for the cost of a new jail in 2017 in Anderson County ranged from $35 million to $60 million. Detention Center Director David Baker confirmed the higher end of that range could still be accurate.

After the blueprints are settled the goal is to begin grading in the next year to year and a half with construction starting in the next three years with a new detention center built by 2027, if not before, Baker said.

Baker anticipates the new jail would be built next to where the current 1954 jail sits. With a capacity of 150 inmates now seeing up to 400 inmates; Baker doesn't think the current space would be reused. Two other pods built in the 1990s, which house over 40 each, could be reused, he said.

The expansions could allow for a new Juvenile Detention Facility since the closest in the state is in Columbia.

Meanwhile in the City of Anderson: Higher garbage fee, employee raises in proposed budget

Breakdown of budget

The county's next fiscal year begins July 1, 2022, and ends June 30, 2023.

The Anderson Sheriff's Department needed more personnel which was accounted for in the budget.

Building improvements were ranked by necessity and the most dire ones were budgeted for this year while the least in need will go to the 2024 budget, Sanders said.

Amount appropriated for the $101,972,660 general fund:

• County Government Administration $34,092,470

• Health and Welfare $3,395,935

• Public Safety $43,817,475

• Public Works $11,255,475

• Culture and Recreation $3,470,410

• Transfer Out $5,586,005

• Contingency $354,890

Sarah Sheridan is the community reporter in Anderson. She'd appreciate your help telling important stories; reach her at ssheridan@gannett.com or on Twitter @saralinasher.

This article originally appeared on Anderson Independent Mail: 2022-2023 budget for Anderson County, plan for new jail, no new taxes