Richland County begins plans for two-year budget

Richland County is changing the way it crafts its budget to make more efficient use of taxpayer dollars while allowing County Council to focus on long-term needs and improve the delivery of services.

The switch from an annual to a biennial – or two-year – budget cycle marks a shift by Richland County Council to more actively measure the performance of the County’s programs to ensure residents are receiving high-quality services that meet their needs. The County’s first biennium budget is planned to begin July 1, 2017 for the FY18-FY19 period.

“This is certainly a new direction for Richland County,” said Council Chair Torrey Rush. “Council is excited about this effort and what it will mean for our citizens.”

With the longer perspective provided by a two-year budget window, County Council will be able to engage more in strategic planning and move beyond merely trying to balance the books on an annual basis.

The County’s executive staff and department heads will be able to invest more time into assessing programs, spotting trends and controlling costs. The information culled from assessments and performance reviews will enable County Council to make better decisions about the County’s needs and direction for the future.

“The budget process should be inspirational as departments plan and develop strategies for addressing the concerns of our citizens and the businesses in the area,” said Gerald Seals, the interim County Administrator. “A biennium budget is a great method for long-term goal setting and making sure we give considerable thought about the future needs of a growing community.”

County leaders are receiving information about the two-year budget process from Seals and the County’s chief financial officer. Adopting a biennium budget allows County Council and its administration to target spending that produces results while emphasizing customer service and improving fiscal responsibility.

According to the Government Finance Officers Association, many local and state governments operate on a multiple year budget cycle. And, biennial budgeting is not new to local government in South Carolina. The practice was implemented in Greenville County in the 1990s under the direction of Seals, who was the county administrator at the time. Greenville County continues the practice.

S.C. state law requires counties to adopt a budget annually and prior to start of the fiscal year. A biennial budget process adheres to state law through an annual review of the budget each fiscal year, at which time, any necessary adjustments are addressed. The budget is presented to County Council for review and approval.

Richland County’s budget process, which usually starts in January, began in October this year with educational sessions with department heads and elected officials. The County is in the process of forming a budget team headed by the chief financial officer. The team will provide insight to the interim county administrator into the development of the recommended budget and department heads will, as always, have the opportunity to give input about the individual needs of their areas.