Lexington, SC 08/09/2024 (Paul Kirby) – In June of this year, the Lexington County Council passed a $300,921,717 budget for the 2024/25 fiscal year. That reflects a 10.5% increase over last year’s budget. County officials say that this was done without any need for a millage increase.
The new budget increases the county’s workforce by 33 new positions. It also provides raises for key positions in order to be able to recruit and retain employees.
The top department that will benefit from additional help is Emergency Services. They will receive approximately $4.29 million which will allow them to hire and equip 10 paramedics. Other employees went to the Eleventh Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the Lexington County Coroner’s Office, and Animal Services just to name a few.
Earlier in the summer, Emergency Service was also allotted the last $10 million in on hand disaster relief funds to buy new equipment. This includes $1,020,000 for 2 EMS units, $529,485 for quick response command vehicles, $96,775 for quick response training vehicles, and $191,275 for quick response vehicles for the CAPE and Logistics Divisions.
The Fire Service was allotted $7,294,000 for 2 replacement fire engines, 1 new pumper for the Noth Lake area of the county, 1 new tower ladder truck for the West Region, 1 replacement brush truck, 1 replacement tanker truck, and $1,444,000 for a second set of turnout gear to equip all firefighters across the county. This allows each firefighter one full set to use while their second set is cleaned after incidents. One additional item left for consideration is another replacement engine valued at $1,100,000. This would leave a SLFRF fund balance of just $628,928. Keep in mind that most of the new ambulances and fire engines have a life span of more than 20 years. This equipment can be swapped to a new chassis or have the complete drivetrain replaced for a fraction of the cost of buying new equipment. Consider this. The Fire Service has some reserve pumpers that were purchased in the early 1990s that are still in relatively good condition.
Full list of Fire Service Items Here
The Council also held the 1st Reading of a bond request from the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission (LCRC). They are asking the council to approve issuing bonds that total $34,000,00 million. These funds would be used for current facility upgrades except for a new administration building for the LCRAC and a Senior Citizens Center in the Red Bank community. Those new buildings are expected to cost $9.8 million.
The remainder of the bond amount would update and refurbish restrooms and concession areas at many of the county’s parks and fields, change 1,900 light fixtures on 250 poles to energy efficient LED lights, add a turf playing field and more seats at the Blowfish baseball stadium, and begin Phase 1 of the Wingard Property Park.
See Entire LCRC Bond Request List Here
County Councilman Todd Cullum said that even when they pass the LCRAC bond sales, they still will not have to raise county property taxes. Recreation Commission bond debt is listed as a separate item on your county property tax bill and as bond debt is retired, it can be replaced by new bond sales that will show no net change on your county property tax bill.
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