Grants give late boost to Laurens County’s $72 million budget

The Laurens County Commission on Tuesday passed a larger-than-advertised budget for the new fiscal year.

The county had proposed a $70.3 million budget for FY 2027, but the final spending plan was approved at about $72.3 million. The difference was additional grant funding that was confirmed and added to the budget, County Administrator Bryan Rogers said.

“We had some grants that we know we are getting now,” Rogers said.

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Most of the additional funding, he said, is for a new $1 million burn building for firefighter training at the fire station on Valambrosia Road.

The $72 million budget includes all county funds and covers everything from public safety and courts to public works and recreation. The county’s general fund budget increased by $3 million from last year, to $39 million, with significant increases in fuel costs, inmate medical care at the county jail and operational expenses at the new 911 center.

The budget includes about $13.6 million in revenue from the special purpose local option sales tax.