|
Featured Sections Headlines Opinion Crime Blotter Cartoons Happenings INsider Dining Wandering Minds Classifieds Off The Wall Area Gas Prices On The Record Country Cooking Archives Info Now! Featured Columns Dr. Myers Outdoors Technology Editor's Column Registered Sex Offenders for Edgefield County 2005 Crime Stats Video & Audio Updates Video Archive Audio (inactive) Contact us Contact Info School System EC District Office School Board Strom Thurmond Fox Creek Private Schools Wardlaw Academy Public Offices Edgefield County Edgefield Johnston Trenton State and Federal Legislative Contacts Chamber of Commerce Edgefield County Chamber Historical Edgefield Genealogical Society News links Edgefield Advertiser The Citizen News Aiken Standard North Augusta Star The State Augusta Chronicle Atlanta Journal United Press Associated Press FOX News Reuters CNS News WorldNet Daily Newsmax Drudge Report GoogleNews Yahoo!News New York Times New York Post Los Angeles Times Washington Times Washington Post |
 Citizens want attendance at County Council Budget meetings web posted April 13, 2007 PSA – The Edgefield County Council has begun its deliberations of the proposed FY 2007-2008 County Budget (Ordinance 06-07-590) which will include the County’s General Operating Budget, and Ancillary Budgets for Debt Service, E-911 Administration, Solid Waste Disposal, Victim’s Bill of Rights, Emergency Medical Services, Countywide Recreation, and certain Capital Expenditures. This is a very unique and important budget because it is the first proposed budget after the Reappraisal and Reassessment Process that occurred in 2006. You will recall that significant discussions were held between County citizens and the County Council Members, and the County Assessor, over that process which resulted in some County residents’ property taxes increasing by more than 300%. Many County residents appealed their property assessments, and some of those appeals are still pending. It is reported that about 50% of the appeals have come from one particular area of the County. Many of you will also recall that the Council Members stated that, “The huge increase in property taxes in 2006 was an anomaly, and because the County School Operating Budget would no longer be funded by the County property taxes beginning in 2007, all County residents should see a huge decrease in their property taxes in 2007, somewhere in the range of about 60%!” We now understand this may NOT be the case The First Reading of this proposed Budget Ordinance 06-07-590 was held on April 3, 2007, but no Public Comments were allowed. The next Reading of this Ordinance will be on May 1, 2007, at 6:00 p.m., at the County Council Meeting Building behind the County Court House. This Second Reading will also include a Public Hearing on this Ordinance, and this is the time that the County Citizens may make inputs and voice comments about this proposed Budget. It would be in the best interest of all Edgefield County residents to attend this Council Meeting on May 1, 2007, and be prepared to voice your comments, since this is the only time the “public” can formally provide input to this process. Following this May 1, 2007 Reading of this proposed Budget Ordinance, the Third and also Final Reading of this Ordinance will be held on June 5, 2007, at which time this Budget Ordinance will be approved or “tabled for further discussion” by the County Council. If approved by a majority of the Council, the FY 2007-2008 will become “law”, the millage rate will be set, and the Budget, including the Property Taxes, will be implemented. It is interesting to note that this proposed Budget shows an overall 3.5% growth over FY 06-07 (last year) amounts budgeted for all property tax receipts, resulting in $152,636 of additional current-year property tax revenue. But the proposed Budget also shows a 7% increase in the General Operating Budget over last year’s similar budget. It was reported during the First Reading that this 7% increase was necessary “to cover the costs of County employee salary and health care increases.“ Please take time to review the Budget Ordinance, and plan to attend the May 1, 2007 Public Meeting. A copy of this proposed Budget may be reviewed at the County Administrator’s Office, or obtained from your County Council representative. At this Meeting, if you desire to do so, you may want to voice any comments or concerns you may have about this proposed budget which will affect all property owners in Edgefield County. For
all past articles please visit our Archives
All
original material is property of EdgefieldDaily.com and cannot be
reproduced, rewritten or redistributed without the expressed written
permission of Edgefield Daily.com
|
EdgefieldDaily.com is a
member of the
Edgefield County Chamber of Commerce New Link Below Information and Activities  Parting Shots A new book by Columnist Carl Langley -----  JAM Straight Customs  Featured Dining  La Cantina   '08 Debate Get involved NOTICE: We still need recipes for Cooking Section WEBNEWS – Send in your favorite or favorites. There is no limit to the number of recipes you can send in. With the Editor’s wife being the driving force behind her own personal section, help her create an exchange of local favorites, home cooking, grilling, sauces, and deserts! Send in your submissions here. |