Beginning the process in what Orangeburg County Council Chairman John Rickenbacker called "one of the toughest budget years in the history of South Carolina and the county," council, on Monday, gave first reading, by title only, to the 2003-2004 fiscal year budget ordinance.

"It's title only, with the goal of having no tax increase," said Rickenbacker. "There are no definite numbers out of Columbia. What they do in Columbia affects us locally. I hope the state doesn't pass any mandates that they don't fund. We don't want a tax increase. We'll watch the numbers very closely."

Since "a lot of what we do is dictated by the state," Rickenbacker said that council will have to be particularly "meticulous and thorough this year," in reviewing the budget numbers.

Despite earlier projections of no tax increase, state budget cuts led to a 5-mill tax hike to fund the current budget.

According to Rickenbacker, council should have specific budget numbers "way ahead of time by second reading."

In other business pertaining to the budget, council gave first reading, also by title only, to the special education budget, which includes funding for Orangeburg-Calhoun Technical College, the Special Needs and Disabilities Board and other special public education projects which fall within the category, such as the library, the vocation rehabilitation and the education arm of the Soil and Water Conservation District.

In other budget action, council adjusted the budget calendar.

With first reading on May 19, a public hearing and second reading are scheduled for June 16. Final third reading will be given either at the regular session on June 23 or, if necessary, at a special session on June 30. The budget goes into effect July 1.

In other business, council:

-- Gave final third reading to an ordinance authorizing a $2 million bond issuance for the Tri-County Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse or Dawn Center.

As a pass-through, the state hospital revenue bond issuance will not count against the county's debt limit. However, in order to participate on a tax-exempt basis, the Dawn Center must, in partnership with the county, use some of the county's $10 million annual tax exempt capacity.

The Dawn Center's project calls for the construction of a 6,650-square-foot facility and for the renovation of approximately 1,500 square feet of the existing facility, all on Cook Road.

-- Gave final third reading to an ordinance to provide for the creation of a joint multicounty industrial park with Colleton County, which is in the process of getting a new industrial park facility. Colleton County is also entering into an economic development incentive agreement with SCE&G.

Under the standard multicounty industrial park agreement, participants are allowed to receive state tax incentives. The county where a designated park industry is located receives 99 percent of the income, while 1 percent goes to the other county.

Orangeburg County's 1 percent is expected to bring in $40,000 a year for the life of the fee-in-lieu-of-taxes agreement.

-- Gave final third reading to an ordinance to amend the ordinance pertaining to the County Fire District to designate which municipalities participate and to clarify the powers and duties of the commission and its administrator.

-- After discussion, voted 6-1 for Administrator Bill Clark's recommendation of a vehicle replacement finance plan.

Clark recommended the low local financing proposal, submitted by South Carolina Bank and Trust, which calls for eight semi-annual payments of $178,630.19. The county is borrowing $1,359,740 to replace 54 high-mileage vehicles, including 39 patrol cars.

Councilman Heyward Livingston, who questioned whether some vehicles could be kept longer, cast the lone vote against the recommendation.

-- Appointed William T. Lawson to the Santee Fire Commission Board.

T&D Government Writer Tucker Lyon can be reached by e-mail at tlyon@timesanddemocrat.com or by phone at 803-533-5545.

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