Council adopts first reading of FY 2024-25 budget

NEWBERRY — Prior to last week’s City Council meeting, Interim City Manager Ed Driggers highlighted key areas in the proposed budget before Council voted to adopt the budget and levy taxes for the Fiscal Year 2024-25.

In general fund revenue, $13,841,175 was proposed. That, Driggers said, is the anticipated revenue of all sources that will come in. Additionally, $14,980,346 will take the receipts of revenue plus the transfer of fund balance of $1,139,171 – $800,000 of that is for the Newberry Arts Center.

“We have a very healthy fund balance. We have a longstanding commitment to not fund recurring expenses, but to fund only non-recurring expenses and that’s what we’ve done with this budget. We’ve taken a very healthy fund balance and you’ve been able to use some of that cash to keep your taxes down in the community,” Driggers said.

For utility funds, $38,511,060 was recommended for utility gross revenue. Electricity, he said, falls under the most expensive of all utility services and is more of an operation-based expenditure, coming in at $7,095,491. Driggers said oftentimes, the City will look at how other regions are doing when it comes to water, sewer and electrical rates.

“The City of Newberry has done a really good job of being able to provide high levels of service, reliable utility services and you’ve been able to do that in a very affordable way,” he said.

During the meeting, a public hearing and vote was taken on ordinances relating to amending and clearly specifying rates for electrical, sewer and water services.

“One of the things Council charged us with early on when I arrived was recognizing the need for transparency and recognizing that if our community has questions regarding budgets, how we spend their money and how resources are used, we want to be able to better present those in our documents and our ordinances so that it’s more self explanatory – because if it’s not people can believe that we’re trying to hide something and in full transparency there’s nothing to hide,” Driggers said. “We can account for every dollar that goes in and goes out – the decision making of what those will be used for, that rests with mayor and council, but we can clearly demonstrate where all of that is. By putting in that new language to clearly identify – it was really our attempt to make sure everything was spelled out.”

Each of the first readings was unanimously passed by Council.

Total operating budget for all activity in the City of Newberry, came in at $58,842,244.

“That’s no small number, but that’s what it takes to operate the City on a day-to-day basis. There are always things we would like to do, but we have to balance our ability to fund those things and meeting the communities demands and needs as well,” Driggers said.

The budget will also see a millage tax increase of 1.7 mills – the current millage rate is 81.7. Additionally, there will be a two dollar garbage fee adjustment.

The vote to pass the first reading to adopt the budget and levy taxes for FY 2024-25 was passed unanimously.

Other business:

• Council passed a first reading on two ordinances that would amend sections of code to reflect the establishment of a comprehensive fee schedule.
• First reading was passed on an ordinance to repeal a section pertaining to residential development incentives.
• Council passed the first reading on an ordinance that would amend Article VII of Chapter 9 to establish rates for energy credits.
• A motion was unanimously denied on an ordinance amending the zoning map for a parcel located at 1518 Harrington St. The parcel in question would like to be rezoned as a duplex.
• Consideration of the first reading of an ordinance amending the zoning map for parcels located on Dixie Drive was tabled until the July meeting.
• Council unanimously authorized Interim City Manager Ed Drigger to enter into a design-build amendment for the Newberry Recreation Complex Expansion.
• Council adopted the City’s amended employee guidelines and unanimously appointed David Wiseman to the Zoning Board of Appeals.
• Newberry County students were recognized as Juneteenth Scholarship recipients during the meeting. Those students were: Faith Gray, Jasmine Kinard, Zaleah Williams, and Azariah Stephens.
• Driggers recognized Mayor Foster Senn and Council with a proclamation to show City staff’s appreciation for the contributions done by Senn and Council.

Reach Kelly Duncan at 803-276-3122 ext. 1867 or at kduncan@championcarolinas.com.