Sumter residents will pay $15 more in yearly fees

County Council approves decrease in property taxes, increase in waste and technology fee

By GINA VASSELLI
Item Staff Writer
gvasselli@theitem.com

Sumter County residents will see a five mill decrease in property taxes this year.

The County Council approved its 2009-10 budget Tuesday night, which balanced at $41.8 million, despite some last-minute changes.

County residents will see a net decrease of five mills in property taxes, which on a $100,000 home would equate to about $20 less a year, but they will now pay a $34-a-year solid waste fee and a $1.50 technology fee on tax notices, for a net total cost increase of $15 a year.

But a $100,000 business would fare much better. With about $36 less in taxes a year, a $1.50 technology fee and a $1 increase in tipping fees per ton (assuming about 4 tons per year), the business would see a total cost decrease of about $30 a year.

The county also struck out a $4 fee on each tax notice to be charged to municipalities from its budget and replaced the $233,200 that would have brought in with funding from the infrastructure fund.

In the budget workshop, County Chairwoman Vivian Fleming-McGhaney brought up the issue of charging the municipalities the $4-per-notice fee.

Fleming-McGhaney said she had heard from the municipalities and "instead of balancing our budget and causing a burden on them," the county could afford to take the money from the infrastructure fund.

She also said she had heard from the municipalities that they did not feel they had been given enough notice of this fee, but Councilman Charles Edens said the city gave as much notice to the citizens of the city about the proposed $8 a month trash collection fee.

Councilman Jimmy Byrd said, "They've had ample time."

But Fleming-McGhaney's proposal was approved after a brief recess wherein council members Byrd, Edens and Artie Baker discussed an amendment to the proposal.

When the recess ended, Edens amended the proposal to also take off one mill from the proposed 2009-10 budget and fund the cost of that from the infrastructure fund as well, which would subtract an additional $253,200 from the infrastructure fund.

The amended proposal was passed unanimously, but council members wanted to stress that the $4 fee will be in the county's budget next year.

Vice Chairman Eugene Baten said he hoped postponing this fee would show the county's willingness to compromise.

"We are extending a hand showing that we are willing to work with them," Baten said.

He also said he thought this might give the county some leverage in future dealings with the city.

"They might be willing to support the funding to support the ball fields," Baten said.

The county had previously asked the city for $100,000 to help fund the operational costs of the Patriot Park Sportsplex. In a letter, Sumter Major Joe McElveen said the city was not able to do that and also listed several areas for which the city and county needed to discuss funding and operations.

Edens said since the county and the city have much to discuss, this move might be the beginning of many compromises.

"Now is the time for us to step up and show that we're trying to work together," he said. "Maybe this is a start."

Council will meet Wednesday night to give final reading to ordinances related to the budget, including the solid waste disposal fee.

The council also:

  Held a public hearing and final reading to an ordinance to use money from the capital improvement fund in the general fund for 2009-10.

  Gave first reading to an ordinance imposing a solid waste disposal fee of $34 per year and established the solid waste disposal fund.

  Gave first reading to an ordinance imposing the $1.50 technology fee on all property in the county.

  Gave third reading to two ordinances dealing with the infrastructure fund, one to allow the money to be used to purchase property and the other to allow a total of about $1.8 million to be taken from the fund to be used in the general fund for 2009-10.