Christina Layton

The council held a budget workshop to discuss the proposed FYB 2026/27 budget. Key agenda items included an executive session regarding contractual arrangements and property transactions, followed by the approval to sell the Cherokee County Transfer Station for $8,550,000. Discussions focused on potential strategies for balancing the budget, including the use of proceeds from the station sale versus implementing service fees. Additionally, the council reviewed the impact of homestead exemptions, proposed employee raises, and the financial implications of increasing departmental spending without adequate revenue.

The Council conducted public hearings and third readings for various ordinances, including those related to the development of industrial/business parks in conjunction with Spartanburg County, fee-in-lieu-of-tax agreements, and infrastructure credit agreements for Project Cruiser and Aerowerks. The Council discussed and eventually approved a user fee for the collection and disposal of solid waste and adopted the budget for the upcoming fiscal year. Additionally, the Council approved budgets for multiple Volunteer Fire Departments, adopted supplemental appropriations for the current fiscal year, awarded a bid for HVAC and electrical design for the Emergency Operations center, and rescheduled a future meeting.

The Council discussed strategies to balance the upcoming fiscal year budget, including proposals for an operating millage increase and a residential solid waste user fee to cover curbside collection and landfill operations. Key topics included the potential for an across-the-board cost-of-living raise for county employees, the financial sustainability of the solid waste department, the transfer station management, and EMS service funding and operations. Council members also reviewed capital project requests, evaluated potential budget cuts including specific contract and personnel roles, and considered the impact of future tax reassessments.

The agenda includes public hearings for ordinances concerning fee-in-lieu of tax agreements, designation of a multi-county industrial park, and a referendum for temporary alcohol permits. Additional business involves second and third readings of various ordinances, including development agreements for joint industrial parks, infrastructure credits, solid waste user fees, and budget adoptions for the county and several volunteer fire departments. The council also addressed a request to solicit bids for a paving project, reviewed a resolution regarding a petition, discussed changes to upcoming meeting dates, and moved into an executive session to cover employment and contractual negotiation matters.

The Council discussed and approved several key items, including the authorization of a Development Impact Fee Study to support infrastructure planning and the execution of a Fee in Lieu of Ad Valorem Taxes Agreement for Project Liberty. The council awarded a contract for towing services to Patterson's Wrecker Services and selected Toole Design for the development and implementation of a Comprehensive Safety Action Plan funded by a Federal Grant. Additionally, the Council approved collaboration on a grant for the Revmon Site infrastructure, authorized requests for qualifications for a new recycle building and electrical/HVAC engineering for the Emergency Operations Center, and received an audit report for the previous fiscal year.