ANDERSON — Anderson County Council is just one reading away from passing a new budget that would reduce taxes by about $11 million from last year.

Council passed the second reading of the $138 million budget Tuesday 6-1, with only Councilwoman Gracie Floyd in opposition. The total budget, which even includes the debts and general obligation bonds, is down about 7 percent from the 2008-09 $149 million budget.

Several citizens praised council for slashing the budget, and asked for even more budget cuts.

Anderson County Councilman Eddie Moore said the lower budget came without having to lay anyone off.

“We are working very, very hard to keep jobs in Anderson County,” he said.

This year’s budget for the general fund is $61 million, which also includes the sheriff’s office budget.

Anderson County Finance Manager Rita Davis said the general fund, excluding the sheriff’s office, is about $6 million less than the 2008-09 budget. Last year’s general fund balance and sheriff’s office combined for about $67 million — $46 million for the general fund and $21 million for the sheriff’s office.

Anderson County Sheriff John Skipper said that he did not ask for a budget increase. Although his department is receiving more funds this year, it’s only because the millage rate went up, he said.

“That’s because my millage rate increased, and not because I asked for it,” Skipper said.

Council will hold a budget work session at 9 a.m. on Friday, June 12.

In other news, council:

-Passed on second reading an ordinance authorizing a property tax credit for county taxpayers who install fire sprinkler systems. The ordinance passed 6-1, with Floyd abstaining.

-Unanimously approved a resolution to approve an amendment of an existing agreement between Anderson County and Orian Rugs pertaining to a fee-in-lieu agreement and special source revenue credit to allow for an expansion of the business.

-Voted 4-1 to hire Wyche Burgess Freeman & Parham to represent councilmen Bob Waldrep and Eddie Moore and defend them from a lawsuit filed by Patricia Jones and Wayne Taylor.

Only Councilwoman Gracie Floyd voted against the resolution, while both Waldrep and Moore left the council chambers during the vote.

Councilwoman Cindy Wilson said lawsuits can be a “big burden” to a council member to be sued as an individual, adding that that was a strategy used against her in the past few years.

“This is really painful,” she said.

Wilson said she was sued so much that she lost her homeowners’ insurance policy, and was left scrambling to find a new policy.