CHARLESTON COUNTY, S.C. (WCIV) — Charleston County has released a financial report of its progress, projects, and funding from Fiscal Year 2024.

For the 13th year in a row, the county held on to its Triple-A Bond rating, which lets staff borrow money at the lowest rate possible.

County Councilman Brantley Moody said “there’s only a couple dozen counties nationwide that have that rating.” He added that the county’s finance staff is very seasoned.

“They know how to budget, they know how to account for funds and they do a very good job at it,” Moody said.

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How taxpayer dollars were spent

Taxpayer dollars fund a variety of sectors:

• $133,393,122 went to public safety
• $104, 888, 069 went to general government
• $931,146,599 went to debt service
• $48,159,361 went to capital outlay
• $9,653,407 went to education
• $104,427,075 went to public works
• $41,379,434 went to judicial services
• $9,683,132 went to economic development
• $21,739,595 went to health services
• $78,517,416 went to culture and recreational services

Some residents said they support wage increases for workers in these sectors even if it takes more money out of their pockets.

“I think those folks very much deserve to be compensated on a more fair level, especially if you’re going to live in Charleston,” said Adam Friend, a James Island resident. “I don’t see our cost of living declining in any way, shape, or form.”

What the report reveals about the local job market and infrastructure projects

Unemployment rates in 2024 remained lower in Charleston County than both the state and the nation. The county successfully generated 838 new jobs last year, according to the report.

“We are trying to recruit companies that are bringing high paying jobs, I.T., technical jobs,” said Councilman Moody. “Those are really the focus of our economic development group these days.”

But some constituents said they want more financial transparency.

A 2024 transportation sales tax referendum that would’ve largely funded the I-526 extension made many voters question how previous referendum money was being spent.

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“We would like to have a better understanding of, ‘these projects weren’t completed yet, you need more money, so where has the money gone?’” Friend explained. “That’s I think, the bulk of why people have this mistrust.”

The Glenn McConnell Parkway is the only TST project from 2016 that’s been completed. Others are in motion, just not finished.

Still, the county report highlighted completed improvements funded by these tax dollars:

• 5,178 linear feet of new sidewalk
• 333,696 linear feet of treated roads
• 8,463 linear feet of installed drainage pipe
• 25,106 linear feet of multi-use path
• 22,200 linear feet of lane miles paved

Read the full report, here.