Bamberg, South Carolina (June 2022) – At a June 20 special called meeting, the Bamberg County Council approved the County’s Fiscal Year 2022-2023 budget. This approval is the culmination of months of effort by the County Council and County Administration, which has resulted in a balanced budget that is responsive to the organization, is fiscally sound, and provides continued funding for vital County services.

"Every budget brings its own set of challenges and opportunities," noted Council Chairman Spencer Donaldson. "Through careful planning and thoughtful discussions, we’ve created a budget with no tax increases for our residents or businesses, while providing broad based support for our priorities, and directs monies towards critical public services, such as the construction of a new fire department in the Holman’s Bridge community and increased support of all the fire departments."

The approved budget, which begins on July 1, includes a decrease in property taxes by 3.7 mills. The FY23 budget provides money for the design and construction of a new fire station in the Holman’s Bridge community, which will result in lower fire insurance premiums for nearby residents. To support public safety efforts, the budget funds an updated camera system at the county detention center and upgrading a part-time dispatcher position to a full-time position.

"This budget puts people and critical services first, while continuing the program of key infrastructure investments such as the ongoing construction of our health and human services complex in the old hospital," Council Vice Chairman Dr. Jonathan Goodman said. "It's still true that our County has a lot of competing needs that can't all be met at once. This budget delivers on improvements for public safety, community resources, government services, and expanded support of Denmark Technical College."

The budget mirrors the County Council’s vision - Bamberg County will be a community where citizens can feel safe, raise their families, obtain quality education and employment, and thrive in a community with an exceptional quality of life.

The budget also funds the support of essential agencies, including: Cheese and Crack Box, Citizens Against Sexual Assault, Mary Ann Morris Animal Shelter, Bamberg County Board of Disabilities and Special Needs, and the ABBE Library System. The Council also approved new agency funding for Shop Her Closest Outreach Ministries and Bamberg County Family and Community Leaders.

"Bamberg County administration and County Council continues to take a conservative approach to budgeting and focuses on long-term planning," said Joey R. Preston, Bamberg County Administrator. "The 2023 County Budget maintains and improves vital County services, continues investment in County infrastructure and other capital improvements and protects the County’s A credit rating."

The county’s FY23 budget includes funding for 800 megahertz radios, a project which would be broken up into two phases. Phase One would include providing the radios for the dispatch, sheriff and code enforcement departments, with Phase Two to include the fire service department. Several other budget highlights include funding for new computers in the offices of the clerk of court, assessor, clerk to council and litter control, and a $5,000 increase in funding to ​each of the nine county fire stations.

Copies of the County budget are available on the Bamberg County website at https://www.bambergcountysc.gov/presentations-1

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