Public safety improvements top city of Fountain Inn’s budget plan

FOUNTAIN INN, S.C. (WSPA) – The city of Fountain Inn is taking new measures they say will boost the quality of life for residents.

City officials are making adjustments to public safety and other aspects of government.

Mayor Fountain Inn GP Mcleer said there are around 13,000 residents in the city and counting. He told 7NEWS city leaders adjusted their budget for 2025 to compensate for the growth.

City leaders released a $33 million budget plan for the upcoming year.  Mcleer said more than half of those funds will be dedicated to public safety, increasing pay for police officers and firefighters.

“Our target to stay competitive is when you come to work for fountain inn, particularly in public safety, you know that you’re going to be in that 75th percentile of area wages, and of course that pay can go up with seniority, and performance,” said McLeer.

He added the budget will allow them to hire three additional firefighters and other city employees.

“This is helping us rise above some of the growth we’re experiencing, and the challenges that puts on our city operations. And this helps to make sure we can maintain those levels of service,” McLeer also said.

McLeer told 7NEWS the budget also factors in fees for an impact study, showing them other ways to improve city operations.

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