A cut county budget, no tax increase and a sigh of relief from most county workers were present when the Barnwell County Council unveiled its 2009-10 fiscal year budget.

The $13,041,520 budget calls for three county employee job cuts as well as no tax increase for county residents.

"But attempts will be made to put them (three employees) into other positions," said County Councilman Keith Sloan.

But Councilman Thomas Williams said since three county employees recently left their jobs and that requirement has been met.

The county was facing about a $1.3 million shortfall stemming from the loss of Chem-Nuclear license fees and surcharges; landfill fees and recycling revenues; and the local government fund, said Sloan.

The budget makes cuts to all county agencies as well as to the outside agencies Council aids.

Cuts to outside agency totalled about $84,000 or 40 percent less from the previous year, said Sloan.

"We simply can't spend every dime we have," said Sloan.

In addition, county workers will take a 3 percent cut in pay as well as take six unpaid holidays and have their sick days reduced from 12 to six.

The only outside agency not cut and which had an increase was the solicitor's office because it is under a previous agreement with Aiken and Bamberg counties for funding levels, said Sloan.

County Council Chairman Joe Smith said council tried to make the reductions as broad as possible.

The accessor's office, buildings and grounds, council and engineering took significant cuts, said Sloan.

Other agencies that were cut include the Barnwell County Hospital (about $100,000); Barnwell County Career Center (about $45,000); The Axis 1 Center of Barnwell (about $45,000); and Generations Unlimited (about $23,000), said Sloan.

About 40 county workers gathered in council chambers to hear the final and third reading of the budget June 25.

During the public comment portion of the meeting, county employee Paula Still spoke to Council about possible job reductions.

She expressed dismay that money was not put away "for a rainy day" and that a gradual millage increase could have saved county jobs.

Still had said in a previous meeting that council members should forgo salary increases or serve a term unpaid.

"I see that is not going to happen," said Still.

"Live on less - like you have asked your dedicated employees to do," she said.

However, Sloan said after the meeting that state statutes prevent a change to elected official's salaries who are serving a current term.

Still mentioned the financial stress the Barnwell County Hospital and the Barnwell County Nursing and Rehabilitative Center place on the county wallet.

"How many times have we given them money to bank their payroll?" Still said.

Boiling Springs resident William Parsons spoke next.

He told Council that raising taxes has historically never worked in a fiscal crisis.

"When you run out of money - you quit spending," said Parsons.

Before public comments, Williams made a motion to move up executive session - originally scheduled for after the budget was to be passed - to discuss the budget before finalizing it.

The motion was seconded by Councilman Freddie Houston.

"There has been no change from what we discussed last Friday," said Sloan, referring to a finance committee meeting held June 19.

Smith said moving the executive session up would incovenience the crowd of county workers waiting for the final reading of the budget.

A roll call vote was called and Lowell Jowers, Sloan and Smith voted against going into executive session.

Before entering into executive session, Williams said the county is in a unique position because it doesn't have to raise taxes or make county workforce cuts.

"I think we ought to choose employees over saving money," he said to a round of applause.

"I can't support a budget that is going to lay people off when we have the money," said Williams.

Jowers asked County Administer Pickens Williams, Jr. what money had been identified.

Williams Jr. replied there was a projected carryover of money from the 2008-09 fiscal year.

Williams said he didn't think it was right to stockpile the money at the expense of laying people off.

About $232,000 in carryover money from the 2008-09 fiscal year was put into the 2009-10 year, said Williams.

After more than an hour behind closed doors, Council returned to open session and unanimously approved the budget.