Clarendon County Council approved its fiscal year 2026-27 budget Monday night, adopting a spending plan totaling approximately $45.8 million following a lengthy debate over proposed funding reductions to the county coroner's office.
The spending plan includes approximately $32 million in General Fund appropriations and lowers the county tax levy by 0.2 mills while maintaining a 5% pay increase for county employees. County officials said the budget was designed to address inflationary pressures, reduced federal revenues and increasing capital needs while avoiding a property tax increase. The budget takes effect July 1.
The budget itself received relatively little debate. Instead, much of the discussion centered on concerns raised by Coroner Jacqueline Blackwell, who asked council to postpone final approval and schedule a special meeting before June 30 to allow additional review of her office's budget.
According to Blackwell, the budget under consideration would reduce funding for the coroner's office from approximately $412,000 in the current fiscal year to $270,020 in fiscal year 2026-27. She said the reduction would eliminate two full-time deputy coroner positions.
Blackwell argued that comparisons to neighboring counties fail to account for Clarendon County's unique demands, including more than 35 miles of Interstate 95, the presence of a state correctional facility and the geographic challenges of serving a rural county. She noted her office handled 957 deaths during the past year and said reducing staffing could increase response times and create operational challenges.
"I'm asking you for justice before the final reading of this budget," Blackwell told council.
The coroner was joined by Orangeburg County Coroner Sean Fogle, who urged council members to consider the demands placed on coroner offices across South Carolina.
"When there's a death that occurs, that family wants information now, and they want results yesterday," Fogle said. "A lot of times, the community doesn't understand everything the coroner's office is involved with."
County Auditor Patricia Pringle also spoke in support of Blackwell's request, arguing that elected officials must have adequate resources to fulfill the duties assigned to their offices.
County Administrator Walt Ackerman defended the proposed budget, presenting data comparing Clarendon County's coroner budget to those of similarly sized counties.
Ackerman noted that Clarendon County currently spends about $13.23 per resident on coroner operations, compared with $7.37 in Williamsburg County and $8.30 in Chester County, two counties with populations similar to Clarendon's.
Ackerman said the proposed budget would reduce Clarendon's per-capita coroner spending to approximately $8.67, which would still rank among the highest of comparable counties.
"We have tried to meet with the coroner," Ackerman said. "We have tried to talk with her about what was actually in her budget."
Ackerman said county officials structured the proposal to maintain operational capacity while bringing expenditures more in line with peer counties.
Council members questioned both Blackwell and Ackerman during the discussion, focusing on staffing levels, operational needs and comparisons with other counties.
Councilman Kurtis Rodine said council's responsibility is to ensure county departments are funded appropriately while maintaining a balanced budget.
"As county council, it is our job to budget the county and make sure everything falls into place for everybody," Rodine said.
Councilman Pat Coker said county leaders must consider how spending compares with neighboring counties when making budget decisions.
In addition to funding county departments, the budget includes approximately $6.9 million for the Sheriff's Office, $4.8 million for Detention Center operations, $2.9 million for Emergency Medical Services and $1.8 million for Fire Rescue.
Following the discussion, council approved third and final reading of the budget ordinance, establishing county spending levels for the fiscal year beginning July 1 and continuing the county's 5% employee pay increase while reducing the tax levy by 0.2 mills.
