Budget Reality Check: Progress, Priorities, and Participation

Chairman Blount’s Newsletter 6-8-25

This Week’s Greenville County Council Meetings

All meetings take place at County Square, 301 University Ridge, Greenville.

Most include livestream options.

Monday, June 9

• 5:00 PM – Finance Committee
  Covering community project funding, land transfers, and budget items.

Tuesday, June 10

• 1:00 PM – County Council Budget Workshop
  An in-depth session where Council reviews and refines the county’s upcoming budget.

• 5:00 PM – Public Communication Forum
  A monthly opportunity (2nd Tuesday) for citizens to speak on non-agenda topics. Registration opens online and in person starting at 4:45 PM. Each speaker is allotted up to 3 minutes.

  Full Official Calendar: Visit the Council Meeting Calendar for times, rooms, and livestream access

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Discretionary Funds for the Upcoming Finance Agenda

Every year, each Council member is allotted a small pool of discretionary funding, money we can allocate directly to support local efforts that benefit the community. It’s one of the more direct ways we can meet needs that often slip through the cracks of larger budgets. Our cycle for these funds end at this point in time every year, so we have to allocate these funds now before the cycle turns over and we begin a new one.

On the upcoming Finance Committee agenda for June 9, several community project applications are up for consideration. Below are the initiatives I’ve personally chosen to support using my discretionary funds. To view the full list of submitted applications, including projects supported by other Council members, you can visit the full agenda here: June 9 Finance Committee Agenda

1. Parker District Fire Dept – Woodside Church of God Feeding Program

• Contribution: $4,000 from Councilor Blount

This program feeds children breakfast and lunch on weekends during the school year, and daily all summer long, serving as a critical support system for families in need. It’s a partnership between the Parker Fire District and Woodside Church of God. I have visited the operation and seen how well it is organized and have also spoken to many families in the area. The sentiment I heard every time was that the program supports all in need and is a vital assistance to many of our underserved areas of District 19.

2. Dunklin Fire Rescue District – Turnout Gear

Total Council Contribution: $7,000

• $4,956 from Councilor Bradley

• $2,044 from Councilor Blount

  • Fire needed additional safety gear for firefighters.

3. Greenville County Sheriff’s Office – Drone Expansion Project

Total Council Contribution: $7,500

• $2,500 each from Councilors Blount, Russo, and McGahhey

  • These drones will enhance law enforcement capabilities in search-and-rescue, surveillance, and tactical response—specifically supporting the Northern Greenville division of the Sheriff’s Office (District 17)

4. Historic Preservation Plaques

Contribution: $2,323.40 from Councilor Blount

This will fund official bronze plaques for sites designated as historic by the County. These plaques serve as lasting markers that preserve and promote our shared heritage.

These are just a few of the projects that will be reviewed on Monday. I encourage you to look through the full Finance Committee agenda linked above to see all the ways your Council is investing in the community. We don’t always agree on everything, but when it comes to helping our neighbors, we often find ways to work together!

Let me know what you think, and if there are initiatives you’d like to see supported in the future.

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Overgrown Properties, Encampments, and the Enforcement Process

I know citizens in every district see them, empty buildings with tall grass, wooded areas behind shopping centers littered with debris, or sites that appear to have become makeshift encampments. They raise questions, and rightly so. Who’s responsible? Why isn’t anything being done? And how can we get it cleaned up?

Lately, we’ve had a number of residents reach out about issues like these, particularly around closed businesses, abandoned lots, or properties that have changed ownership. These spaces often attract trash dumping or even homeless encampments. And while the frustration is real and completely understandable, the process for resolving these situations is a bit more complicated than it might seem at first glance.

Why the County Can’t Always “Just Fix It”

The first thing we have to determine in cases like this is ownership. That alone sets the direction of the entire process.

If the property is privately owned, the County doesn’t have the authority to simply enter, clean it up, or remove anyone, even if the conditions appear unsafe. If it’s public land or County-owned, then departments can step in after an inspection and follow the appropriate procedure. But in most cases, especially with commercial properties or wooded lots behind buildings, it’s private.

Even when there are signs posted (like “No Trespassing”), that doesn’t automatically give the County authority to act. Those signs help law enforcement enforce violations, but enforcement still follows legal steps, not instant action.

What a Council member Can (and Can’t) Do

This is where your Council representative comes in. Our role is often misunderstood, so for all members of Council, I want to attempt to clear some of it up.

We are:

• A direct point of contact for you to report the issue

• A bridge between you and County departments

• A watchdog making sure cases don’t fall through the cracks

• A voice advocating for action when appropriate

• A body that can create and change ordinances to better serve the community

We are not:

• Law enforcement

• Code enforcers

• Property owners

• Able to authorize entry or cleanups without due process

What I can do, and regularly do, is make sure that your complaint is routed to the right department, followed up on, and tracked. I stay in contact with staff across departments, including the Sheriff’s Office and Code Enforcement, to push for clarity, coordination, and responsiveness. But I work within the law, just like everyone else.

Why It Sometimes Takes Time

Once a complaint is filed, here’s what the process typically looks like:

1. Property ownership is confirmed.

2. Code Enforcement inspects for overgrowth, trash, or unsafe structures and issues a violation notice if needed.

3. If criminal activity, drug use, or illegal camping is suspected, it’s sent to the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office.

4. If it involves homelessness, the Sheriff’s Homeless Outreach Unit may be called in. This unit combines law enforcement with social services to assess the situation safely and humanely.

5. If the site is cleared of individuals, the property owner is responsible for cleanup. In some cases, the County may step in, but that generally requires legal action, court orders, or liens.

And remember, even if it looks abandoned, that doesn’t mean it’s unowned or free to access. There are real safety risks involved too: used needles, human waste, and dangerous debris are often present. That’s why citizens, officials, or volunteers can’t just go in and clean it up themselves. It must be done by trained personnel with protective gear, following legal protocol.

What You Can Do: A Local Resource List

If you encounter issues like this in your area, use the contacts below to report them safely and effectively. And feel free to reach out to my office anytime to help guide the process. Save the image below and add it to your camera roll or computer so that you can easily access these number or share them with neighbors.

When you report something, include the address, a description of what you’re seeing, and photos (if safe to take). It speeds up the process and helps the responding agency act with clarity.

Reporting these issues doesn’t mean you’re complaining, it means you care. And while the process isn’t always fast, it’s built to balance safety, legal rights, and fairness. When we work together, you reporting, me escalating, and departments doing their jobs, we keep Greenville County safe, clean, and headed in the right direction.

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Traffic Fatalities Decline Sharply—Additional Road Improvements Are On the Way

Greenville County has seen a dramatic and encouraging drop in traffic-related fatalities this year. According to the South Carolina Department of Public Safety, there were only 16 roadway deaths in the county between January 1 and June 1, 2025, a 60%+ decrease compared to the same period last year, when we saw 41 fatalities. Read the article HERE

This decline is a strong indicator that the community’s collective push for safer roads is beginning to show measurable results. And more relief is on the way.

If passed during the final reading on June 17, the upcoming county budget will at least triple funding for road paving and congestion relief, bringing it to the highest level Greenville County has seen in nearly two decades. This historic investment isn’t a coincidence; it’s a direct response to what I believe is the loudest and most consistent mandate from the citizens of Greenville County: “FIX OUR DANG ROADS!”

Out of all the issues we as a council are tasked with addressing (housing, public safety, education, growth management), road infrastructure is by far the number one priority demanded by a majority of residents, regardless of party, district, or demographic. People are tired of potholes, traffic bottlenecks, and feeling like their daily commute is a battle.

The current proposed budget reflects our understanding that public safety isn’t just about law enforcement, it’s also about the quality and safety of the roads we drive on every day. And if the trend in reduced fatalities is any sign, focusing our resources in the right places works. It’s 20 years overdue and we are committed to correcting course!

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Blue Lights, and the Bigger Picture

Budget season can bring out the best, and sometimes, the worst, in local government.

On one level, it’s our chance to allocate vital resources to the departments that keep Greenville County running. It’s a season where we debate priorities, confront hard trade-offs, and wrestle with the tension between vision and fiscal responsibility. But at the same time, it’s also when the process is most vulnerable, when it can be hijacked, spun, and weaponized.

Most recently, a wave of public concern was stirred by claims that County Council reduced a salary increase for the Sheriff’s Office. That narrative is simply not true, and I believe it’s time to walk everyone through exactly what happened, why the confusion likely occurred, and how we can all get back to fact-based discussions.

The Facts — Council Did Not Cut Law Enforcement Salaries

Here’s the accurate timeline:

• May 5: The proposed 2025–2026 budget was presented to County Council. It already included a 3% salary increase for all County employees, including the Sheriff’s Office.

• A few days after this presentation, I was told that we would be receiving information about officer pay and a consideration for a needed increase.

• May 14th: The Sheriff’s Office submitted an additional request for a raise above the already included 3%.

• Today: That request is still under active review. No amendment has been submitted or voted on. No salary increases were reduced. No decision has been made yet about the additional request.

So when we started receiving emails claiming that Council cut public safety salaries, they were based either on a misunderstanding, or in some cases, an unfortunate manipulation of the budget process for political pressure on Council. That’s not fair to the public, and it’s especially unfair to the deputies who serve this county with honor.

I would say it’s not fair to Council, but we signed up for the pressure!

Let me be crystal clear to our law enforcement community:

👉🏽 You have not had salary increases cut.

👉🏽 The 3% is in the budget, just like it is for all departments.

👉🏽 We are actively reviewing the additional request to see if there is a responsible way to support it.

That conversation will continue at the upcoming budget workshop this Tuesday!

A Word About Sheriff Lewis

Before I go further, I want to be very clear:

This situation is not an attack on Sheriff Hobart Lewis or his office.

In fact, I want to publicly thank Sheriff Lewis for the outstanding job he continues to do here in Greenville County. His leadership and the work of his deputies have been instrumental in keeping our community safe and stable.

The reality is this: like any department head, the Sheriff submits budget requests to County Administration, not directly to Council. That’s how the process works in all departments. These submissions happen before the final budget is built, and they are submitted for consideration, not automatic inclusion.

And that distinction “for consideration” matters. It means administrative staff must evaluate the financials, weigh competing needs from across the county, and determine what is feasible to include in the final budget proposal.

This is a key part of responsible government.

If every department’s requests were simply accepted as-is, without analysis or adjustment, the budget would balloon beyond reason, and our taxpayers would bear the burden. That’s why this process exists: to ensure fairness, sustainability, and balance.

So when a request doesn’t make it into the final version, or is modified to fit within the bigger picture, that is not a “cut.” It is the normal budget process in action.

Why We Switched to a One-Year Budget

The Sheriff also raised a valid concern earlier this year: under our former two-year budgeting model, other counties and municipalities could see our projections and use them to recruit away our workforce. That concern was heard, and we responded.

Outside of requested transparency by constituents, was one of the many reasons we moved to a one-year budget, to give us more flexibility and protect our ability to retain top talent in all departments, especially public safety.

Reflecting on the last 6% Raise: A Broader Perspective

Looking back, the last time Greenville County issued a significant raise was in July 2022 (prior to my election to Council), when they approved a 6% salary increase. That increase wasn’t just for law enforcement, it was county-wide, benefiting all 2,600+ employees. That was a moment where Council chose fairness. They said, “Everyone matters here.”

And as we revisit this conversation in 2025, I want to emphasize something:

Even as we explore additional salary support for law enforcement, we have to understand that this is a sensitive topic. Because while our deputies face undeniable danger, and deserve our respect and compensation, they are not the only ones working high-risk jobs in service to this county.

We also have:

• Detention officers managing difficult and unpredictable environments

• Environmental enforcement officers out in the field in remote or hazardous conditions

• Public works crews on the side of highways in dangerous zones

• Emergency responders who rush into natural disasters and crisis situations

These individuals don’t always get the same spotlight, but they show up every day to protect and serve Greenville County in their own way. Their risks are real, and their contributions are critical.

If Council finds a way to responsibly approve additional support for public safety, I will continue to speak up for the many other county employees whose service and sacrifice also deserve recognition and support!

As always, I invite your input, your questions, and your feedback. All meeting minutes are publicly available. The budget workshop is open to the public. Let’s keep the conversation grounded in facts, and let’s build a Greenville County that respects and values all who serve it!

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Chairman’s Corner: A “Balanced Budget”

When I talk about a “balanced budget”, I don’t just mean the numbers on a spreadsheet. I’m talking about something far more difficult, balancing the many competing priorities, expectations, and concerns of the citizens we serve.

This year’s budget wasn’t about pleasing every group or funding every request. That’s not realistic. What it was about was delivering a budget that reflected what the overwhelming majority of Greenville County citizens have demanded:

• Fix our roads

• Cut the fat

• Stop the endless tax increases

We heard you—and we acted!

• We tripled road funding, reaching the highest level in nearly two decades.

• We reduced property taxes.

• We cut back on departmental overhead, eliminated unfilled administrative positions, and reined in areas of spending that had quietly ballooned over the years.

That includes tough decisions like the reduction in affordable housing funding, which, yes, was more than a 60% cut from last budget’s county allocation. But here’s what hasn’t been mentioned in many of the emails I’ve read (and yes, I’ve read them all):

That “cut” came after that same funding line saw a more than 60% increase in the last budget which raised property taxes higher than seen in almost 30 years.

So while I understand why a reduction feels like a step backward, we also have to ask:

Why was there so little concern over why that line item increased so drastically in the first place?

Maybe more importantly: Why was the narrative in the last budget, that if we didn’t raise property taxes, county employees wouldn’t receive raises, while we simultaneously expanded green space, transit, and affordable housing?

It’s not that one initiative is right and one is wrong. It’s more about being honest, rather than hiding it behind the citizens who serve our County by holding salaries over their heads.

As Chairman, I will not get everything right. But one thing I can guarantee as long as I have the honor of this position: This Council will not allow narratives to be spun publicly with ulterior motives attached.

You deserve honesty. You deserve clarity. You deserve transparency, and that’s exactly what we’ve put forward in this year’s budget, which will come up for third reading on June 17.

Affordable Housing Isn’t Being Abandoned

Let me also push back on the claim that Council has “walked away” from addressing affordable housing.

We haven’t.

In fact, at the upcoming Finance Committee meeting, we’ll be considering whether to donate two County-owned properties to the Greenville County Redevelopment Authority (GCRA), our official affordable housing arm.

This move doesn’t show up as a dollar line in the budget, but it’s real value:

• It gives GCRA land they don’t have to buy.

• It helps accelerate affordable housing development.

• It achieves housing progress without shifting the burden to property taxpayers.

This is what I believe in: creative governance that delivers results without simply throwing more public money at the problem.

Call to Action: We Need Your Voice in the Room

Now, I need to speak directly to you, citizens who have supported these efforts, who are thankful we didn’t raise taxes again, who believe in funding roads, cutting overhead, and making government work better and leaner:

I know coming to a Council meeting on a Tuesday night isn’t easy. But the chairman needs a favor.

June 17 will be standing-room only!

Many of the people in that room will be those who disagree with the budget, or were stirred up to intentionally provide political pressure. That’s their right and I welcome them to the chamber to share their concerns.

But we need your voices, too.

✅ If you support what we’re trying to do, show up and speak.

✅ If you’re thankful for the effort to make this budget more transparent, say it out loud.

✅ If you’re excited that we’ve tripled road funding for the first time in 20 years, get to that mic and say it.

✅ If there’s anything you appreciate about this budget, even if you don’t agree with all of it, let that be heard.

The best way to combat negative political talking points is with real people showing up in support of real progress!

Let’s show Greenville County that disagreement is fine, but that this Council chamber doesn’t just belong to the loudest critics. It belongs to all of us. And if you’re proud of the direction we’re heading, we need you there to let it be known!

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As always, I hope you and your families have a blessed and prosperous week in Greenville County!