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Lexington County’s growing pains could affect your taxes.

The county’s explosive growth has affected not only roads and traffic but strains police, EMS, fire, solid waste and other services.

At last week’s budget work session, the council heard requests and needs of county departments.

Sheriff Jay Koon requested more School Resource Officers, a Crime Scene Investigative Evidence Technician and future detention center repairs.

He also requested that emergency personnel who work on holidays, giving up time with their families without anything more than a “thank you,” be given extra pay.

County Administrator Joe Mergo estimated paying deputies, EMS employees, fire fighters and dispatchers extra to work on holidays would cost the county about $1.4 million a year.

Mergo said he would find out how much this might mean in taxes.

The council appeared to favor it as “the right thing to do” for emergency workers on holidays.

“In this competitive environment,” Council man Darrell Hudson said, “you have to do it or lose your people to those who will pay it.”

EMS Chief Brian Hood said, “Resident population continues to grow each year, building permits continue to be issued, neighborhoods continue to be constructed and this population growth increases the number of ambulance calls.”

There was an increase of calls 3.9% from 2016 to 2017 and an 8.9 % increase from 2018.

“We are projected to break the 50,000 call mark in 2019,” said Hood.

He requested a new ambulance at $240,000 to add to the aging fleet and anticipates asking for a new crew in fiscal year 2020-21.

Fire Chief Mark Davis’s big-ticket requests included $551,000 for a new fire truck, replacing 15-year-old breathing equipment and a 20-year-old hazardous materials fire truck.

Other requests included building repairs and requests for staffing increases to handle the increased workload.

More people mean more boats, cars and homes, Auditor Chris Harmon said. He requested more staff to fill his department’s needs.

The Solicitor’s office has not added any employees since 2004 but asked for one additional staffer.

Does this mean an increase in taxes to meet the increased needs of the county?

The budget Council is working on will not be available until after the May 14 council meeting after the Chronicle goes to print.

A recommended budget can be found online at www.lex-co.sc.gov/departments/finance/budget-documents .