The County Council passed on third reading the Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Ordinance at a previous Council meeting. Council approved the $152.2 million budget where it passed unanimously.

The budget is now available online on the County website. The County's digital budget book allows taxpayers to review department budgets quickly and can be found here.

"This budget is fiscally responsible yet provides quality services that our citizens expect in order to live, work and play within our county," said Joe Passiment, County Council Chairman. "I thank the County staff for their hard work and dedication to get a well-thought-out budget in front of Council."

Some budget highlights:

• Priorities
  • State-mandated increase in both ERS and PORS
  • Wellness Initiatives for long-term reduction in claims expense
  • Address deferred facilities needs and capital needs
  • Increase in external entity funding (Higher Education, Indigent Care, Economic Development, Island Recreation)
  • Expand programming for children and seniors
• General Fund Overview
  • Approximately $1M to fund the new Port Royal Library
  • Technology equipment for Beaufort County Sheriff’s office $892,044
  • $550,000 increase in health insurance premiums
  • Garage Fund savings of approximately $665,000 by employing our own vehicle maintenance staff versus contracting these services out
  • Solid Waste Fund decreased by $908,752

To watch a replay of this meeting or to watch all programming, find BCTV on Comcast channel 2, Hargray channels 9 and 113, and Spectrum channel 1304. Viewers can also watch programming live and on-demand on BCTV or on the County YouTube Channel.