Anderson County budget approved

June 25, 2025 by Ben Pounds

At a special called meeting, the Anderson County Commission on Monday approved a $153.25 million budget for the 2025-26 fiscal year.

The property tax rate isn’t certain yet, as the state Board of Equalization needs to certify that rate after the recent countywide property reappraisals.

The budget designated a total of $153,017,282 in expenditures for all funds, although an amendment added $250,000 to that for municipal fire departments within the county.

Of that, $45,310,921 went to the total general fund, $698,227 to the county library board, $2,703,791 to the solid waste fund, $60,000 to the drug control fund, $198,663 to the Chanell 95 Enterprise Fund, $850,961 to the tourism council fund, $7,862,448 to the highway and public works fund, $78,135,202 to the general purpose school fund, $4,802,712 to the central cafeteria fund, $430,291 to the general capital projects fund, $924,766 to the educational capital project fund and $5,578,012 for the Anderson County benefit plan fund.

The general debt service fund received $1,797,019. The rural school debt service fund got $1,724,263 and the high school debt service fund $1,940,006.

Commissioner Denise Palmer made the motion to pass the budget on second and final reading, and Commissioner Stephen Verran seconded.

The only vote against the budget came from Commmissioner Tim Isbel.

Verran and Palmer, along with commissioners Ebony Capshaw, Shain Vowell, Tracy Wandell, Sabra Beauchamp, Phil Yager, Shelly Vandagriff, Tyler Mayes, Michael Foster, Joshua Anderson, Jerry White and Anthony Allen, voted yes.

Commissioners Robert Smallridge and Robert McKamey were absent.



Fire Departments

An amendment provided funds for the county’s municipal fire departments.

Each received $50,000, leading to a total of $250,000.

Anderson made the motion, and Capshaw seconded.

Commissioners Verran, Capshaw, Vowell, Isbel, Wandell, Mayes, Foster, Anderson and White voted for this amendment.

Commissioners Beauchamp, Yager, Vandagriff, Palmer and Allen voted against it.