County anticipating costlier jail expansion

Council approves each by a 4-3 vote

Spartanburg County Council members approved a pair of spending plans Monday that substantially increases the anticipated cost of a jail expansion (though they still have plenty of questions as to how big that expansion will be, and how they will go about it), devotes $650,000 to a proposed water park (though they're not sure where it will be or whether such a venture is financially feasible), and doesn't raise taxes (although there's a very real chance your bill will be higher this year if you live in an area where property values are on the rise).

The budgets go into effect July 1.

Both were approved by a 4-3 vote. Councilmen Dale Culbreth, O'Neal Mintz and Michael Brown voted against them for various reasons - most of which were rooted in uncertainty around a specific project or projects.

The $48.5 million capital budget, which allocates funds for large expenses like buildings, equipment or vehicles, is part of a five-year plan that includes the jail expansion and the water park.

Expanding the jail to meet the current and anticipated future flow of inmates has long been a topic of discussion, and the council and its consultant have yet to figure out a sound way to create enough bed space for 1,500 inmates for the price they're willing to pay. It will be paid for by a series of general obligation bonds.

Chairman Jeff Horton suggested forming a committee that includes some or all of the council members to tour other facilities, including dormitory-style buildings and modular buildings used to house inmates, in order to come up with the best way to spend tax dollars. But $46.1 million weeks ago was identified as the cheapest the county could get off the overcrowding hook - and that only allows the jail to house 1,136 inmates, which means it will likely be at capacity by the time it's built.

Monday, the county approved putting about $27 million toward that project.

The water park has been a source of contention among different council members, some of whom are concerned that wherever it goes - adjacent to a new park just outside Reidville has been the favored spot so far - it will put their home districts at a disadvantage. Others want to wait for a study to come back to tell them whether it makes financial sense to build such a project.

Council also approved a $158 million operating budget for the 2008-09 spending cycle - though the last word on how that plan will affect taxpayers won't be known until bills are sent out in the fall.

The operating budget, a 3.3 percent increase over the current spending plan, adds a handful of new positions to the county's employment roster, including five sheriff's deputies, two 911 operators and a last-minute addition of a single new employee to the local veteran's administration office - out of two requested.

The budget is based on a recommended millage rate of 48.1, the same amount currently levied. However, property values are being reassessed this year and, by state law, the millage rate will "roll back" so that reassessment does not become a financial windfall.

But because the state 2006 property tax reform act limits the amount a county - or city, school district, fire service area or any other taxing district - can increase its millage each year, councilmen say they must raise the tax rate as much as they can each year in order to not be faced with an insurmountable shortfall in the future.

The relatively new state law allows (in this case) a county to raise its millage only so much as to keep up with population growth and inflation.

It just happens that the "new" millage rate, the maximum the county can raise it to, is the same as the "old" millage rate. But anyone whose property value increases will feel the difference.

Residents in the Tyger River and Poplar Springs fire service areas will see an additional property tax increase.

Tyger River will see a 5.3 mill increase - roughly $21 on a $100,000 home - so that the fire department can pay its share in hiring nine additional firefighters for 10 years. A federal grant is covering much of that expense, at least for the first few years.

Poplar Springs will see a smaller increase - about $2.40 on a $100,000 home. Poplar Springs wants to apply for the same grant Tyger River recently won, but wants to get its finances in order before applying, rather than waiting until if and when it is awarded.