County Advances on $345 Million 24-25 Budget
Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer
Anderson County Council approved on second reading Tuesday a fiscal year 2024-2025 budget of $345 million. The budget is an increase of $59 million over the current fiscal year’s $289 million, and in its current form does not include tax increases.
Council will hold third reading until after the state passes its budget, allowing the county to confirm expected funding amounts.
“We are on a good, solid course,” said County Council Chairman Tommy Dunn of the budget.
Councilman Jimmy Davis agreed.
“Our county has done an extraordinary job on this budget considering all prices are going up,” said Davis. The proposed budget is two percent below inflation costs.
New Business for Belton
Tax incentives for a business to locate on the site of the closed Milliken textile plant were also approved by council on Tuesday. The family-owned business which will occupy the property builds custom structure housing products, and will invest $16 million in the project. Twenty-five new jobs will also be created, at an average salary of $29 per hour. Property tax on the site will rise from $290 in 2023 to $134,000 the first year the new business is up and running on the property.
Anderson County Economic Development Director Burriss Nelson added that the economic impact for the City of Belton is expected to surpass $7 million.
Also on Tuesday:
Approved the plans for improvements on the S.C. 81 Corridor study to address issues and concerns related to safety, connectivity and capacity within the Highway 81 corridor between Wren School Road and Powdersville Main/Piedmont Road. The improvements will include additional turn lanes and better lighting and will be done in phases as funding permits. The proposed one-cent roads tax on the November ballot would accelerate the work.
Council gave second-reading approval to the Anderson Sheriff’s Office taking over duties of the Belton City Police Department. The move will require the Sheriff’s Office to maintain a substation in Belton and “make available approximately” 10 deputies to the city which would include one lieutenant, one sergeant and eight deputies. The actual number of deputies assigned to each shift may vary. This team will perform duties previously covered by the Belton City Police Department.
The city will incur all costs for the substation. Belton will pay $1.2 million annually ($100,000 per month) to Anderson County for costs of the services provided by the Sheriff’s Office. More details in earlier story here.
Council approved a $9.4 million contract to Don Moorhead Construction for improvements to one of the county’s main sewer lines, the Five Mile Sewer, which runs along Clemson Boulevard.