One Aiken County Council member and two County elected officials are requesting that specific funding be put back into the $62.7 million 2015-16 budget, after Council already agreed to cut the budget's general fund by about $1 million.
On Tuesday, Council agreed to forward the budget, with an amendment, to its final vote expected next week. A portion of the general fund cuts included a cut of $50,000 allocated toward the demolition of abandoned and vacant properties, a cut with which Council member LaWana McKenzie took issue.
McKenzie, who represents the Midland Valley area where many of the abandoned homes are located, said it "surprised" her that Council decided to cut another $25,000 out of the already-cut demolition fund.
"I just found that out tonight in listening," she said. "But one of the things that concerns me is we took such a strong stand on litter, trying to clean up the County. We made this big stand in the newspaper. ... Litter doesn't just start in cars."
Usually, litter begins in abandoned homes where drug addicts might hang out and sleep, McKenzie said. She said it's not just "meth houses," but also "crack houses" where people stay, hang out, sleep and sometimes set fires.
"It's scary we have a generation living that way," she said. "I don't want us to waste money in the budget. I know you've worked hard looking for cuts, but the money comes back to you to improve neighborhoods."
McKenzie said it's not about the house specifically, but that the homes can be "literally dangerous" in several communities; she said drug addicts could be inside the homes, making drugs, falling asleep or accidentally catching the home on fire.
"I personally don't know where we're wasting money; it's well used, and I'd like to see it put back in (the budget)," she said.
Council member Chuck Smith echoed McKenzie's sentiment, asking Council to look back at adding "critical" items to the budget.
"I don't think (demolition) is something we've got to pull out of there," he said. "It's a good project that we need to put that $25,000 back in."
Council member Phil Napier responded that Council can always choose to amend the budget later to add the demolition funds, and that any funds the County can save should go toward any financial impact by potential bad weather.
"We need a cushion; we can't spend everything," Napier said.
In other requests, County Treasurer Jason Goings and County Auditor Charles Barton asked for funding for each of their departments. Although both already made their requests to Council in February, Goings asked for an additional employee and $20,000 worth of employee upgrades, which increases those employees' salaries. Barton requested one more employee for his department, in addition to funding upgrades.
Council is expected to hold the final vote on the 2015-16 budget at its 7 p.m. meeting Tuesday in the Aiken County Government Center's Council Chambers, 1930 University Parkway.
Maayan Schechter is the local government reporter with Aiken Standard. Follow her on Twitter @MaayanSchechter