Horry County Council discussed the possibility of raising taxes to help balance next year’s budget, as well as fund public safety, and offer pay increases to employees.
Council discussed a 7.2 mills increase that would equate to $28 per $100k household.
“Where are we going to cut? We’re going to start having to cut employees. What division do we cut, who do we cut, what personal do we cut? If they don’t raise the millage they’re going to have to start telling me where they want to cut,” said Horry County Council Chairman Mark Lazarus.
The county has already cut $4.8 million dollars from the original budget request.
The proposed tax increase would bring $13.5 million extra dollars to Horry County.
The majority of that money ($8,030.536) would go towards balancing the budget.
The second largest amount ($2,949,945) would go towards county employee raises.
“A lot of it is competitiveness we’re losing a lot of employees to other jurisdictions because of our competitiveness,” said Lazarus.
Some council members question raising taxes so that county employees could get pay increases.
Council member Harold Worley said he and his employees have not received raises over the last decade.
He asked Lazarus how the county can expect tax payers to fund a pay increase.
“We’re hearing the outcry from the public that we need more for our public safety,” said Lazarus. “Pay our people more so that we are more competitive and we can keep them from leaving and keep them employed and keep them on the job,” he added.
Lazarus says there has been an influx of crime and gang related activity.
He says the tax increase will help put officers on the street.
Lazarus says he believes the 7.2 mill increase is a good plan and there is no real way around a tax increase.
“This time next year we’re going to be at zero then we’re really going to have to pay for it. So it’s either pay now or pay later,” he said.
In addition to the millage increase, council also considered building permit fee increases to raise money.
Council will have second reading and public input on the budget next Tuesday.