Most Georgetown County employees will receive a 3 percent bonus in the next fiscal year, according to a preliminary budget presented to County Council at a workshop on Monday afternoon.

It’s the second year in a row that the budget has included “supplements.” Last year, bonuses were based on how long an employee had worked for the county. Next year’s bonuses would total $380,000.

County Administrator Sel Hemingway told Council that projected expenditures in the next budget are $22.42 million, and projected revenues are $22.35 million.

There are no tax increases or reductions in services in the proposed budget.

For the past three years, department directors and elected officials were asked to submit budgets smaller than the previous year. For Fiscal Year 2013 (FY13), directors were asked to maintain FY12 levels.

The county is waiting to see how much money it will receive from the state legislature’s Local Government Fund. The Senate is considering adding $40 million to the fund. Georgetown County’s cut is expected to be between $1.8 million and $2.2 million, depending on the Senate’s action.

In FY12, the county used $952,000 to balance its budget. Hemingway said the county will probably have to use $432,474 in FY13.

The county wants to maintain a General Fund balance of at least $8 million.

In FY 2014, the county is expected to have a balance of $8.44 million. That is as close as it will get to the $8 million “floor” in the next four years.

“We’re cutting the line close here,” Council member Bob Anderson said.

“Since I’ve been here I haven’t seen [finance director Scott Proctor] come up short yet,” Hemingway said.

County Council will hold a public hearing on the new budget, and give it second reading, at its next meeting on May 22.

Third reading is scheduled for council’s June 12 meeting, which is also Primary Election Day.

Council only meets once a month in June, July and August.

csokoloski@gtowntimes.com