The first in a series of three annual Beaufort County Council Budget Workshops was held Thursday morning. County Council heard presentations from several elected officials and a number of outside agencies.  

The budget workshop began with a brief presentation about the 2027 Budget Preparation update from County CFO Pinky Harriott. She gave a quick overview of the budget process and what the upcoming schedule of workshops will be.

Budget Requests from elected officials began with the 14th Circuit Solicitor's Office's presentation by Solicitor Duffie Stone. He highlighted several programs including an extensive list of victims services programs, diversion programs that help direct certain qualified offenders to social services and rehabilitative resources--primarily first time offenders. Solicitor Stone also stated the need to keep and continue to attract well qualified talent. Watch his presentation here.

The next presentation was from the Beaufort County Sheriff's Office. Suzanne Cook, BCSO's Chief Financial Officer noted that because of last year's budget increase which allowed them to increase starting salaries, which in turn, allowed them to hire staff. The office went from 305 personnel to the current level of 315. Watch her presentation here.
    
Beaufort County Auditor David Cadd started by complimenting several employees who had been with the office for many years. He said he and his staff work hard to reduce the obligation to taxpayers while increasing services. Watch his presentation here.

Chief Magistrate Heather Galvin gave a brief synopsis of her budget request to Council. Watch her presentation here.

Master-in-Equity Jim Wegmann gave a very brief synopsis of his budget request to Council. Watch his presentation here.

Outside Agency Budget Request Presentations were next.

• Keep Beaufort County Beautiful
• Small Business Development Center
• Hilton Head Island Recreation Association
• Lowcountry Regional Transportation Authority
• Beaufort Conservation District
• Military Enhancement Committee
• Coastal Empire Community Mental Health Center
• Beaufort County Economic Development Corporation

Several more budget workshops have been scheduled in the coming weeks and once they are confirmed the public will be notified.

For more information, contact the Clerk to Council's office at 843-255-2183.

Watch the entire budget workshop here or on BCTV On Demand.

BCTV can be found on cable channels Sparklight (formerly Hargray) - channel 9 and 417; Comcast - channel 2; Spectrum - channel 1304. BCTV also streams live on www.BeaufortCounty.tv and through the FREE BCTV APP available on ROKU, Apple TV, Android TV and Amazon Fire.