Edgefield County council approves FY2025-26 budget that adds EMS millage and one-time transfers to cover shortfalls

The Edgefield County Council on a unanimous vote approved final reading of the FY2025-26 operating budget, which includes a proposed millage increase dedicated to emergency medical services and a transfer from the general fund to cover an immediate EMS shortfall.

County Administrator Dean said the budget increase is intended to keep up with inflation and rising operational costs and to fund a multi-year plan to improve EMS capacity. "The increase in tax collections is essentially keeping up with inflation," Dean said during the meeting, adding that the county has not raised millage in roughly 15 years.

The budget package includes an approximately $300,000 transfer from the general fund to EMS to address an ongoing shortfall, Dean said. Council members described EMS as an essential, life‑saving service and said the increase targets EMS only, not the general fund. Councilmember Miss Ireland and others said they are committed to finding ways to roll back the EMS millage later if earmarks, state assistance or a capital project sales tax allocation can offset the cost.

During public comment, resident Eddie Kale questioned where tax revenues were going and expressed concern about higher property and vehicle taxes. Dean and other council members responded at length, saying the county had conducted multiple presentations, published information online and advertised for public input before the vote. The chair said the county had posted an issue paper and news coverage about EMS and that council had worked to be transparent about the proposal.

Council members cited operational facts discussed at the meeting: the countyurrently averages a 12-minute EMS response time compared with a reported national average of 9 minutes; the EMS millage did not fully cover operations or capital needs; and EMS had previously supplemented its budget by drawing on reserves. Dean also noted that unlike police and fire services, failure to provide EMS has exposed other jurisdictions to legal risk.

Council discussed but did not adopt an immediate alternative funding source. Members said they will continue to pursue state earmarks and consider the countyapital project sales tax for 2026 as potential offsets. Several council members repeated their intention to revisit and reduce the EMS millage if outside funds become available. The reading of ordinance number 2425007 was approved by unanimous voice/hand vote.

The vote: Motion to give reading to ordinance 2425007 (FY2025-26 budget) — mover: Mr. Tower; seconder: Miss Ireland; outcome: approved unanimously.

The council did not set a specific timetable at the meeting to reduce the EMS millage; members said any rollback would depend on future revenue sources and legislative actions.