It’s official: Property taxes will increase in Lexington County.

Lexington County Council gave third and final reading approval June 13 to the 2023-2024 budget, which includes a 5% increase in property taxes.

County officials said the increase will raise the taxes on a property valued at $100,000 and used as the owner’s primary residence by $19.69.

The total budget, passed unanimously without any comment, amounts to $182.5 million, a 9.4 percent increase over last year.

Council Chair Beth Carrigg said she has not received much negative feedback on the tax hike from citizens.

“I would say less than one half of 1% of what I’ve seen and heard on social media was opposed,” Carrigg told the Chronicle.

She said she was very pleased that the budget will provide more support funds for the county’s emergency responders

The percentage of the budget going to emergency services is 72.7%, according to county officials. The departments receiving the allocations are law enforcement, fire services, public works, 911 and EMS emergency response teams.

Carrigg also noted it was the first property tax increase for Lexington County in 10 years.

Council Member Todd Cullum said the increase in compensation for employees was badly needed.

“We had people making $12 an hour that could make $16 an hour working somewhere else,” he told the Chronicle.

The county has recently experienced some personnel shortages, with the budget adding a 7% cost of living adjustments and a merit-based increase of up to 3% in an effort to combat this.

County officials said the area’s rapid growth and the high inflation rate also prompted consideration of the tax increase.