Dexter renews call for state funding

Reg Dexter renewed his quest last night to extract a promise from state lawmakers to fully fund the Local Government Fund.  The District Five councilman says the state has an additional $1.2 billion dollars in money.  He has accused the state of failing to live up to an aid to local government commitment that costs county residents.  But it’s a touchy subject with the state lawmakers, such as Oconee’s three-member state delegation, who’ve said the state’s economic troubles dating back to the 2008 recession have required a belt-tightening.  After debate last night, the council approved sending a new letter to the delegation, although Chairman Wayne McCall and Councilman Paul Cain voted no.  They say the state’s extra revenues likely will be exhausted by the cost of cleanup in the midlands and low state from October’s extraordinary rainfall.