Citizens Raise Concerns About Stream Protection And Internet

Two citizens used the opportunity of a Budget Hearing of the Oconee County Board of Commissioners last week to raise concerns that have budget implications but that were not directed as specifics of the budget presented.

County Finance Director provided the commissioners and the public the final details of the $53.3 million budget which includes no new positions, no salary raises for existing employees, and increased spending on health insurance benefits.

The budget represents an overall increase in spending of 2.4 percent and is balanced by a projected increase in property tax revenue. Sales Tax revenue is budgeted to decrease.

The millage rate is to remain stable, and the budget does not draw any revenue from the county’s Fund Balance, or savings account, which is expected to be $11.2 million at the end of June, the end of the current Fiscal Year.

Vicki Soutar, 1091 Castle Drive, off Simonton Bridge Road, and chair of UOWN Oconeewaters, asked for additional funding for protection of the area streams, focusing in particular on contamination from septic tanks.

Justin Conrad, 1331 Lane Creek Drive, came to talk about the lack of Internet service in the Lane Creek neighborhood north of New High Shoals in the west of the county and asked the county to make investment in Internet infrastructure a high priority.

For more on the story, with a video of the meeting, please go to Oconee County Observations.