Charleston County News Release

MEDIA CONTACT

Name:   Jennie Davis, Charleston County Public Information Officer

Phone: (843) 958-4012

Email:   jdavis@charlestoncounty.org

Release Number: 3019

Date: June 3, 2009

Charleston County Council Approves a No-Millage-Increase Budget for Tenth Straight Year

Charleston County Council gave final approval on Tuesday, June 2, to a no-millage-increase budget for fiscal year 2010 (July 1, 2009 through June 30, 2010). This marks the tenth year in a row that Council has adopted a budget for Charleston County Government without raising the millage rate.

The $371.1 million operating budget, reduced almost $4 million from the previous year, is the result of county staff preparation beginning in the fall of 2008, followed by two months of County Council meetings where members reviewed the proposed budget, department-by-department, to make adjustments and find ways to meet the county’s financial needs.

“We are proud to have a no-millage increase budget for this fiscal year. We know times are tough for our citizens, and it’s also hard on our county government,” said Teddie Pryor, Charleston County Council Chairman. “For the tenth consecutive year, staff and council have worked hard on behalf of the citizens of the county. For us to be able to help our citizens out while our revenues are still falling is quite a feat.”

In working toward a balanced budget, Council had to consider the impact of declining revenues on citizen services and employee benefits.

Also included in the 2010 fiscal year budget:

• Debt Service payments for a $50 million borrowing to complete the Charleston County Detention Center expansion and the Consolidated Dispatch Center

• Addition of 55 positions for a portion of the year to open the Detention Center expansion.

Visit the Charleston County Web site at www.charlestoncounty.org for news, services and up-to-date information relating to Charleston County Government.