Council passes the FY 2025-2026 county budget and approves an impact fee ordinance for first reading
The approved budget includes adjustments for increased insurance costs, a new HR generalist position, and a specialized detention center lieutenant role, while the impact fee ordinance moves forward to establish assessments on new development to fund parks, recreation, and municipal facility upgrades.
4 votes4 passed2 split
The vote behind the headline
FY 2025-2026 Budget Appropriation (3rd Reading):Council adopted the final $2025-2026 budget, including insurance cost adjustments, new staffing roles, and millage rates.Taxes & budget
Yes 5 · No 2
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How they voted
✓ Derek Shoemake✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Danny Catoe✓ Brant Tomlinson✗ Jimmy Jones✗ Russell Brazell
This vote finalized the county's financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year, running from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The budget process involved three readings, with final amendments addressing specific millage rates for the Lugoff and Kershaw County Fire Districts and general millage corrections. Notable additions to the budget include funding for increased insurance premiums, a new HR generalist position, and a specialized lieutenant role for the detention center. The budget was passed 5-2, with Councilmen Jimmy Jones and Russell Brazell casting the dissenting votes. This appropriation sets the financial foundation for county operations, services, and capital projects. It follows extensive review of departmental funding needs and adjustments made to ensure the county remains fiscally stable while meeting service delivery standards. The budget document and fee schedules are now finalized for implementation starting July 1.
PASSEDFor 5 · Against 2. Council adopted two amendments to the budget prior to the final vote
FY 2025-2026 Budget Appropriation (3rd Reading):Council adopted the final $2025-2026 budget, including insurance cost adjustments, new staffing roles, and millage rates.Taxes & budget
Yes 5 · No 2
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How they voted
✓ Derek Shoemake✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Danny Catoe✓ Brant Tomlinson✗ Jimmy Jones✗ Russell Brazell
This vote finalized the county's financial plan for the upcoming fiscal year, running from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. The budget process involved three readings, with final amendments addressing specific millage rates for the Lugoff and Kershaw County Fire Districts and general millage corrections. Notable additions to the budget include funding for increased insurance premiums, a new HR generalist position, and a specialized lieutenant role for the detention center. The budget was passed 5-2, with Councilmen Jimmy Jones and Russell Brazell casting the dissenting votes. This appropriation sets the financial foundation for county operations, services, and capital projects. It follows extensive review of departmental funding needs and adjustments made to ensure the county remains fiscally stable while meeting service delivery standards. The budget document and fee schedules are now finalized for implementation starting July 1.
PASSEDFor 5 · Against 2. Council adopted two amendments to the budget prior to the final vote
Development Impact Fees Ordinance (1st Reading):Council moved forward an ordinance establishing impact fees on new development to fund infrastructure and public facilities.Development
Yes 6 · No 1
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How they voted
✓ Derek Shoemake✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Danny Catoe✓ Brant Tomlinson✓ Jimmy Jones✗ Russell Brazell
This ordinance creates a framework for charging development impact fees on new residential and commercial projects within unincorporated Kershaw County. The primary goal is to shift a portion of the infrastructure cost burden from existing taxpayers to new development, specifically to fund parks, recreation, and municipal facilities like fire and EMS equipment. A consultant, Matt Noonkester, presented the justification study, which analyzed the county's current assets and capacity requirements to meet growth. The impact fees are based on a Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) that prioritizes specific expansion projects. While the ordinance passed 6-1 on first reading with Councilman Russell Brazell opposed, the county must now navigate public notice requirements and subsequent readings. The measure aims to ensure that growth does not outpace the county's ability to maintain public service standards for its residents.
PASSEDFor 6 · Against 1. This ordinance establishes development impact fees for unincorporated areas and adopts a capital improvements plan
Zoning and Land Development Regulations Amendment (1st Reading):Council delayed a decision on zoning changes for rural event venues to allow for further public and staff due diligence.Development
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How they voted
✗ Jimmy Jones• Derek Shoemake · not recorded• Sammie Tucker Jr. · not recorded• Ben Connell · not recorded• Russell Brazell · not recorded• Danny Catoe · not recorded• Brant Tomlinson · not recorded
The meeting video didn't make clear how the members in grey voted; their votes fill in automatically once the county posts the official minutes.
What this was about
This proposed amendment to the Unified Code of Zoning and Land Development Regulations aimed to create new categories for commercial and rural event venues, as well as rural country clubs. The goal was to provide clearer definitions and permitting paths for various event-based businesses that have recently emerged. However, during the meeting, concerns were raised regarding the potential for over-regulation, the impact on rural neighborhood character, and the exact intent of these new zoning definitions. Several council members expressed a lack of appetite for adding more bureaucracy without further study. As a result, the council voted 6-1 to defer the item until July 22, 2025. This delay provides time for council members to meet with planning staff and ensure the proposed language does not inadvertently harm existing property owners or create unintended consequences for agricultural land use.
DEFERRED 6-1. Council deferred this item to July 22, 2025, to allow time for additional due diligence regarding commercial and rural event venue definitions
Kershaw County Library and Department on Aging MOA (2nd Reading):Council approved an agreement to provide office space for a dementia care specialist at the Camden Library.Parks & rec
Unanimous · 7-0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Derek Shoemake✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Russell Brazell✓ Danny Catoe✓ Brant Tomlinson✓ Jimmy Jones
This ordinance approves a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Kershaw County Library and the South Carolina Department on Aging. The agreement permits the Department on Aging to utilize a small office space at the Camden Library location on Broad Street to house a dementia care specialist. This specialist will serve a four-county region - Kershaw, Lee, Sumter, and Clarendon - to assist families navigating dementia diagnoses and related resource challenges. The county will provide the office space and basic support, while the Department on Aging covers all staffing, equipment, and supply costs. The move is designed to make these essential health and advocacy services more accessible to local Kershaw County residents. The agreement has passed second reading unanimously and is expected to be finalized soon, with operations scheduled to begin in the coming fiscal year.
PASSED (Unanimous). This agreement provides office space at the Camden Library for a dementia care specialist
Contingency Fee Representation Agreement for Food Litigation:Council authorized the retention of legal counsel to pursue claims against ultra-processed food manufacturers.
Yes 5 · No 0
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How they voted - unanimous
✓ Derek Shoemake✓ Sammie Tucker Jr.✓ Ben Connell✓ Danny Catoe✓ Brant Tomlinson
In an executive session follow-up, the Council voted to authorize the County Administrator to enter into a contingency fee representation agreement with UPF Litigators LLC. This move allows the county to join a growing list of jurisdictions pursuing litigation against manufacturers and distributors of ultra-processed foods, citing concerns over public health impacts and addictive chemical contents. The legal strategy is modeled after previous multi-county tobacco and opioid litigation. By joining the litigation now, the county preserves its right to participate in potential future settlements or financial awards without incurring any upfront legal costs, as the firm operates on a contingency fee basis. Councilman Derek Shoemake explained that this is a proactive measure to hold companies accountable for health-related costs borne by the public and ensures Kershaw County is not left behind if other jurisdictions secure a settlement.
PASSEDFor 5 · Against 0 (J. Jones and R. Brazell absent). Council authorized retention of counsel to pursue potential claims against manufacturers of ultra-processed foods
EMS Resolution: Council unanimously passed a resolution commemorating 10 years of service by the Kershaw County Emergency Medical Service.
Agenda Amendments: Council formally approved amendments to the agenda to include the FY26 budget public hearing and to defer property sales and intergovernmental judicial agreements.
Public comment▸showhide
Residents voiced concerns regarding unchecked growth, the need for clarity on rural event venue ordinances, and persistent storm water and infrastructure maintenance issues within the Pecan Orchard neighborhood.
Another resident thanked the council for their balanced approach to evaluating growth and local economic impacts of new subdivisions.
Coming up▸showhide
July 8, 2025: Next regularly scheduled Council meeting.
July 22, 2025: Rescheduled first reading for the ZLDR/Event Venue ordinance; reporting on potential funding solutions for Pecan Orchard infrastructure.
Independent summary, generated from the county's public video, not an official county communication.
How this recap was made: Prepared from the meeting's live-stream transcript and the official agenda packet. The county's official minutes (the verified vote record) will be cross-checked automatically once the county publishes them, often a couple of months later. This is an automated summary written by software (a neural-network summarizer working from the documents above). Rely on the official county record for anything important.
