Commissioners also considering increases to fire tax rates in four townships 

 

COLUMBUS—Polk County property owners could be looking at some increases in tax rates this year.  

The Polk County Board of Commissioners met Monday and heard from county manager Marche Pittman, who presented his proposed budget for fiscal year 2019-2020. The new budget year will begin July 1.  

Pittman is proposing a 2-cent tax increase to fund the Polk County Schools After School program and rising public safety costs.  

The budget will also use fund balance for some one-time capital expenditures next year.  

Capital costs 

The sheriff’s office is projected to receive seven new patrol vehicles, 12 computer system replacements and investigative supplies at $278,700; public safety radios are included in the budget at $201,510; new voting machines for the board of elections are budgeted at $171,000; building improvements at the solid waste station are budgeted at $136,000; the transportation department includes $106,840 for two buses and three viper radios (actual county cost after state reimbursement is $10,684); the Polk County Jail is proposed to get one new vehicle, six radios, five tasers and a backpack blower for $48,850; the department of social services is planning to replace a vehicle, replace 17 workstations, get three viper radios and replace three computers for $45,890 (actual county costs after state reimbursement is $22,945); the library is planning to replace four computers and have a self-service checkout system for $38,600; the recreation complex plans for one vehicle replacement and a fiberglass truck cap for $33,771; the EMS plans for a defibrillator replacement and two computer replacements at $29,100; school resource is budgeted for one vehicle replacement at $25,000 and MIS plans to replace a computer and exchange email access licenses, estimated at $10,900.  

Personnel additions 

There are several recommended personnel changes next year, including the new Polk County Health Department, which will operate with six new full-time positions, one part-time position and several part time positions as needed.  

The sheriff’s office will employ one new deputy, which will be allocated by the sheriff.  

The Polk County Jail will add 2.5 positions. The new positions in the jail will bring the total staff of the jail to 26, compared to the former jail staff of 11 employees.  

The proposed budget also includes a 5 percent adjustment to the county pay scale beginning in January 2020 as well as an anticipated 4 percent increase in health insurance costs.  

The county plans to contribute $299,386, or the equivalent of one cent on the tax rate for the after school program. Polk County also contributed funding this fiscal year for the after school program.  

The new budget year is also proposed to include $150,000 in capital reserve to pay for Turner Shoals Dam repairs at Lake Adger. The new allocation next year will bring the county’s savings for the dam to 1.25 million.  

The new budget also proposes to include $100,000 for consultative services on the old jail building, $50,000 for water line extensions and $95,000 for water consultative services.  

Fire tax rate increases 

There are also increases in some fire tax rates proposed for next fiscal year, which were recommended by the county’s Fire and Rescue Advisory Commission. The Columbus Fire Department is proposed to increase three cents; the Green Greek Fire Department is proposed to increase two cents, the Saluda Fire Department is proposed to increase one cent and the Sunny View Fire Department is proposed to increase three cents.  

Tryon and Mill Spring are the only departments to not request increases this year.  

The county has not had a tax increase for the general fund for a couple of years. The last tax increase was implemented in 2017 to cover half of the debt service for the new law enforcement center, which was also two cents.  

“The plan in 2017 was to raise rates (2 cents) in the next fiscal year to cover the additional half of debt service, plus another increase (2 cents) to operate the facility (for a grand total of six cents),” Pittman said.  

He said the rate was not increased to cover the second half-year debt service, nor was it raised to cover the additional operating costs.  

“This was due to good fiscal management, increased revenues in areas other than property tax and some growth over the two fiscal years,” said Pittman. “This year we have needs that will require a rate increase. Specifically, we need (one cent) to cover the request for the after school program from Polk County Schools. Additionally, we will need (one cent) to continue to fund the increase in public safety costs which have grown over the past four years by 38 percent, or $2 million.”  

Pittman said the proposed rate increase is lower than either of our neighboring counties and Polk County will still be approximately the 20th lowest tax rate in the state.  

“The recommended tax rate was kept to a minimum through an increase in our overall valuation, other revenue growth and fund balance appropriation,” Pittman said.  

The total proposed budget is for $32,867,674. With the two-cent proposed tax rate increase, the new tax rate would be 54.94 cents per $100 of property valuation.  

Commissioners will discuss the proposed budget in detail during work sessions scheduled for May 20 and May 21. Commissioners plan to hold a public hearing on the proposed budget at 7 p.m. on June 3. Commissioners plan to approve the budget on June 17.