Spartanburg County budget outlines how your tax dollars will be spent: 7 things to know
Spartanburg County Council on Monday approved the first reading of a proposed 2023-24 budget that includes no tax increase, but spends more on road projects and planning for a new animal shelter.
The $289 million spending plan is $24 million higher than the current $265 million budget, but no tax increase is needed thanks in large part to a growth in real estate tax revenues, said Lisa Benfield, finance director.
Revenues are expected to grow by 8% this year and 5% in 2024, Benfield said.
Highlights of the current 2022-23 budget can be found here:
Seven highlights of proposed spending plan for 2023-24 include:
➤ The property tax rate will remain at 52.1 mills. Taxpayers will again see a $12-a-year debt service levy on their bills to repay a total of $60 million the county agreed to borrow in 2022 and 2024 for road projects.
➤ A 3% cost of living increase for all permanent employees, as well as an extra 1% for law enforcement personnel and retention incentives. The county will pay 3.7% more for health insurance, with no increase to employees.
➤ New positions to be added include sheriff's office investigators and home detention officers, a grant writer and maintenance personnel for the new county courthouse.
➤ Inflation has caused the county to increase costs budgeted for fuel, detention center meals, postage and road and bridge materials.
➤ More funding for road projects could come if County Council approves a proposed penny sales tax for roads when the current penny tax for county and city buildings expires on April 30, 2024. The new tax would replace the current one and take effect May 1, 2024.
Penny sales tax: What to know 'Bucket of money that scratches issue.' Spartanburg County moves closer to penny sales tax
➤ Also, planning for a future pet resource center is budgeted. A consultant has estimated a new one-story pet resource center to cost $17.5 million and remain open seven days a week and be able to take in 1,500 stray cats and dogs each year.
But the size of the project has not yet been determined, according to Deputy Administrator Earl Alexander. He said programs are being put in place to connect stray animals with adopting families to lessen the need for shelter space at the resource center.
County moves closer to animal shelter Spartanburg County closer to having own animal shelter. What to know about the project.
➤ The capital improvement budget is $108.3 million. The majority of spending, 47%, is for roads and bridge projects. Other projects to be funded include the joint city-county government complex, vehicle and equipment replacement, public trails, athletic field lighting and upgrades to the sheriff's office.
Final approval of the budget is scheduled for the June 19 county council meeting.
This article originally appeared on Herald-Journal: Spartanburg County's new spending plan: What taxpayers should know
