During a budget work session that lasted nearly four hours on Tuesday, the Aiken County Council heard from elected officials and appointed department heads about the funding they would like to receive for the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
The committee continued to discuss those requests, which “primarily raised issues that require further discussion,” Chairman Gary Bunker said.
“We are narrowing down the issues that need to be addressed,” he added.
Coroner Darryl Ables has asked the County Council to give all staff an 8 percent pay increase, in addition to the 3 percent raise for all county employees included in the proposed budget prepared by County Executive Brian Sanders and his staff.
“We are trying to avoid departmental increases whenever possible,” Sanders said in response to Ables' request.
In recent years, employees at the sheriff's office and emergency medical services department have received such raises because they have “had a hard time filling positions,” Sanders said. “I think he (Ables) is at or near capacity. They're trying to be more cautious with the raises.”
But County Councilman Mike Kellems said sometimes it's a good idea to raise salaries before staffing shortages become an issue.
He also noted that coroner's staff have the same demanding, stressful job duties as deputies and paramedics.
“They end up overworked,” Kellems said.
Chief Deputy Sheriff Marcus Padgett asked that the County Council further consider some of the Sheriff's Office funding requests that Sanders and his staff rejected in their proposed 2024-2025 budget.
The budget included an allocation of $444,550 for the purchase of equipment, including five cameras and five handheld radios for vehicles that have already been purchased.
“The sheriff's office no longer has spare parts to equip these vehicles,” he told the Paget County Council.
Padgett said the funding will also allow the sheriff's office to purchase 50 new handheld radios to replace “end of life” equipment that can no longer be sent to Motorola for repairs.
“I think it needs to be done quickly, but we need to look at funding options,” Bunker said of the request for vehicle cameras and radios.
As for funding for the handheld radios, Bunker said that decision could be delayed until the County Council revises its 2024-2025 budget later this year.
In the past, the committee has routinely revised financial plans after they were developed.
The deadline for finalizing the 2024-2025 budget is June 30th.
“We will know by December whether Capital Projects Sales Tax IV passes. [by local voters in November]”We are [funding for] These radios are planned as part of a communications project for emergency responders.”
Capt. Nick Garham, jail administrator for the sheriff's office, asked that the county council give further consideration to a request to add five detention officers to the Aiken County Jail.
Sanders and his staff did not include these funds in their proposed 2024-2025 budget.
Garam said the extra officers are needed to work in the jail's new housing units, which are undergoing an expansion.
Bunker said construction work isn't scheduled to be completed until around the first quarter of 2025, so a decision on funding could come when the County Council revises its 2024-2025 budget.
The council also discussed a request for additional staffing from the Department of Voter Registration and Elections, whose proposed budget for 2024-2025 includes costs for precinct coordinators and clerks.
“I think we all need to stop beating around the bush and have an honest conversation about this department” before deciding what to do, County Councilwoman Kelly Mobley said.
He believes such discussions are necessary because questions have been raised about the office's effectiveness and leadership over the years.
“That's not a good dynamic,” Mobley said.
The budget work session was held at the Aiken County Government Center in Aiken.
