Hartsville City Council approves $13.1 million budget
By JIM FAILE
Hartsville City Council gave final approval to a $13.1 million budget for the new fiscal year during its regular monthly meeting Tuesday.
Council approved each of the six budget ordinances that make up the package by votes of 4 – 0 with Mayor Pro Tempore Johnny Andrews and council members Adlena Graham, Bob Braddock and Bernice Wilson all voting for passage. Mayor Mel Pennington and council members Wanda James and Billy Shirley were not present. Pennington sent a written statement to council members urging approval of the budget.
The new budget includes a 4 percent increase in property taxes for city residents. The increase of 5.09 mills will move millage for city property owners from the current 125.97 mills to 131.01 mills and will generate about $126,750 in new revenue, officials said. It will also add $20.16 to the annual property tax bill on a home with an assessed value of $100,000.
The increase is less than the maximum the city could raise property taxes under the state-imposed cap on property taxes, which ties any increases to inflation and population growth.
The new $13,137,097 budget includes a general fund budget of $7,392,000. The two largest items in that budget are for public safety - almost $2.3 million for the police department and nearly $1.2 million for the fire department.
The package also includes a utilities fund budget of $3,563,252, a solid waste fund budget of $1,030,000, a hospitality fund budget of $706,195, an accommodations tax fund budget of $94,650 and a storm water utility fund budget of $201,000 which is funded through a $4 a month storm water utility fee that shows up on residents’ monthly water bills.
The general fund budget includes funding for merit raises for employees of up to 3 percent.
Revenue projections for the utility fund budget include a scheduled increase in water rates approved by council in November of 2008. That will raise the minimum water bill (300 cubic feet) by $1.62 a month for city residents. The average residential customer will see an increase of $2.39. The increase is expected to produce about $125,000 in additional revenue for capital and infrastructure projects.
Residents will also see an additional $6.50 tacked on to their monthly water bill to cover solid waste collection, recycling and yard debris collection services related to the city’s new recycling program. Solid waste fund revenues are expected to increase as a result of about 20 new commercial customers, officials said.
The new budget year starts on July 1.