MINUTES OF BAMBERG COUNTY COUNCIL MEETING - May 18, 2009

In compliance with the Freedom of Information Act, agendas for the following meeting were mailed to all members of Council, County Attorney Richard Ness, Lower Savannah COG, The Advertizer-Herald, The Times and Democrat, and a copy posted on the bulletin board in the main hallway of the County Courthouse.

Bamberg County Council met 6:47 p.m., May 18, 2009, in the Bamberg County Council Building. Present: Chairman Clair Guess, III, Councilmen Isaiah Odom, William Nimmons, and Chris Wilson. Absent: Councilwomen Dorothy Tatum and Alzena Robinson, and Councilman Clint Carter. Others Present: Administrator Rose N. Dobson-Elliott, Thomas M. Thomas, Booker Patrick and Dionne Gleaton.

Bamberg County Council meeting was called to order by Chairman Guess at 6:47 p.m., in the Bamberg County Council Building. The pledge of allegiance to the flag was led by Councilman William Nimmons, followed with invocation by Councilman Isaiah Odom.

On motion by Councilman Odom, seconded by Councilman Nimmons, council approved the agenda as submitted.

A public hearing was given to a proposed ordinance to provide for the levy of taxes for county operations and county debt service in Bamberg County, South Carolina, for the fiscal year July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010; to provide for all other estimated revenues and for the appropriation thereof and to provide for related matters thereto. No public comments were made.

Due to the absence of the chairman of the personnel committee, the council agreed to postpone the report until the next schedule meeting.

On motion by Councilman Wilson, seconded by Councilman Nimmons, council gave third and final reading to a proposed ordinance to provide for the levy of taxes for county operations and county debt service in Bamberg County, South Carolina, for the fiscal year July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010; to provide for all other estimated revenues and for the appropriation thereof; and to provide for related matters thereto. The budget totaled $7,552,350 for fiscal year 2009-1010. The County Millage Rate for District 1 and 2 is County Operating 121.5, Capital Needs 8.6, Hospital Bond 4.0 and Fire Service 14.7. The budget does not include a tax increase and this is a reduction in County Operations by 2.5 mills. Chairman Guess said the tax rate reduction is a remarkable achievement which could be attributed to sound, fiscal management and leadership. He continued by stating that this is a milestone event to have a budget that is lowering rates for each of the county taxpayers and this was the first time in ten years that the budget had been completed this early. Everybody worked hard, and we're very conservative here, and appreciate the effort, especially a county of this size. Chairman Guess said the rate reduction comes down to a personal sacrifice by those people who depend on the state for part of their salary, and those issues have not been adequately addressed. We're asking people that work for this county that receive those state subsidies to make a personal sacrifice for this success. The state cut is unrealistic and unfair and not warranted at this point and time. Hopefully, we'll be able to help them out as we go forward as well.

Administrator Dobson-Elliott stated that our budget overall is the same as we had last year. Some monies were moved around to cover what needed to be paid for operations. There were no salary increases, no vehicles being bought. She further stated that we no longer have to pay a leasing fee for the Denmark Health Department. The Bamberg County Detention Center has seen an increase in inmate population over the past two years and the increase has resulted in a hike in meal and medical costs.

Councilman Wilson commended all the staff for working through a budget process and making some adjustments so some of the needs that we have and some of what the priorities are without having to increase taxes.

The calendar of events was accepted as information.

There being no further business for discussion, on motion by Councilman Wilson, seconded by Councilman Odom, the meeting was adjourned at 7:08 p.m.