CONWAY, SC (WBTW) – As Horry County leaders work to set the budget for the next fiscal year, officials say there will be no tax increases and there is a proposal to give county employees a pay raise.

County officials say they’re looking at a balanced budget and have more than $3.3 million left for enhancement projects. Leaders say they want to use nearly all of the money, about $3 million, to give across the board pay raises to county employees.

News13 asked if the pay raises had anything to do with the trouble the county has had staffing positions in fire rescue and police, but officials say it’s not about recruiting, it’s a way to reward current employees for the work they do.

Officials want the raises to be merit based, so some people could see a 1% increase in pay while high performers could get 5%; it would be about a 3% average.

Horry County Council will talk about this again at a budget retreat coming up April 28 – 29. The budget for the next fiscal year needs to be set by July 1.