Horry County officials vote on proposed budget cuts

By: Thema Ponton | SCNOW
Published: April 20, 2009

Horry County leaders say no tax increase, no job loss, and a balanced budget.

However, Public Information Officer Lisa Bourcier says there will be some painful cuts in order to supplement next year’s $18 million dollar shortfall.

Bourcier says council passed first reading of a budget at its retreat last week and if it passes at the end of June, county residents will see some noticeable changes.

Among them, a 3% salary reduction for county employees, a reduction or delay in the number of roads scheduled to be paved, and delays in service. Bourcier says a number of agencies would lose funding under the proposed budget.

Among them, The COAST RTA, $700,000, Citizens Against Spousal Abuse (CASA), $25,000, Shoreline Behavior Services, $45,000, The Waccamaw Center for Mental Health, $30,000, Disabilities and special needs, $25,000, The American Red Cross, $8,200, Chapin Memorial Library, $60,000, and Children’s Recovery Center, $15,000.

Bourcier added the proposed budget also includes an increase in fees for EMS transport.

David Bodle, with The COAST RTA says not getting the money they need from Horry County could mean route cuts and a reduction in services.

"Our phones are already ringing and asking us what are you going to do, where are the cuts going to come and unfortunately we just don't know at this point, but it hurts. Probably the best word to use for our riders, it's scary, I mean our folks rely on us to get them to work, they rely on us to get them to healthcare, to shopping.”

Bodle says there are no specifics yet on what may get cut because council only passed first reading of the proposed budget.

Councilman Paul Prince, the only one who voted against the budget says the main reason he voted not to approve the budget is because of a recommendation reducing or delaying the paving of a number of dirt roads.

"I'm going to stick to my guns and I’m just not going to vote today to approve the budget because, these people that's born and reared here, some of them up to ninety years old that's lives on these dirt roads and they been here and they been paying and they been riding on dirt roads and they need to be considered first they're here and its not right that we don't try to get them off those dirt roads as fast as we possibly can."

Bourcier says one project that will happen is the opening of the new jail at the J Reuben Long Detention Center. Bourcier says it’s scheduled to open on budget and on time, next summer.

The budget requires two more reading before it goes into effect July 1.