The Union County Commission approved the FY 21 Budget and set a tax rate of 2.13999 with no tax increase at its regular meeting on June 22. However, the raise for commissioners will not be included. Mayor Jason Bailey informed the commission that Governor Bill Lee prohibited any commissioner raises for FY21 in an executive order in March due to the high rate of unemployment and the impact of the coronavirus.
At its May meeting, the Union County Board of Education passed a balanced budget with increased funding. Teacher salaries will increase due to a raise in beginning teacher pay from $36,000 to $37,000. This raise causes an increase throughout the scale. There will be no longevity pay for seniority since all educators will get an increase in pay.
The Union County Commission met on Monday, April 27, in a virtual meeting for some commissioners in order to observe the mandates under Covid-19.
According to Mayor Jason Bailey, work on the Union County FY 2021 Budget is on track to be ready for the Union County Commission meeting on Tuesday, May 26.
Chairman David Coppock called the first virtual meeting of the Union County Board of Education to order on April 9, 2020, with all board members present.
Director of Schools Jimmy Carter relayed a message from UCEA President Carolyn Murr. She thanked the BOE for the care and thoughtfulness shown during the pandemic, especially the distribution of food to the students.
Mayor Jason Bailey outlined a formula to fund the Chamber of Commerce at the March meeting of the Union County Budget and Finance Committee. Bailey related that he and chamber president Thomas Skibinski had formulated a workable plan using the hotel/motel tax.
Passing a budget and setting a tax rate in June has now become best practice in Union County. For two consecutive years, Ann Dyer, County Finance Director, and County Mayor Mike Williams have diligently worked with County Commission led by Chairman Gary England and the Budget and Finance Committee to complete the budget process before the beginning of the new fiscal year on July 1. Their combined efforts have solidified the budget process into a transparent, accountable, and responsible fiscal practice that has set Union County on a course toward improvement and maybe even prosperity.
At the May Meeting, Union County Commission received the proposed budget, accepted several resolutions, contracted to save money and time, and approved the Mayor's appointment on the Board of Health.
