It took the Clinton City Council just under 10 1/2 minutes Monday night to approve a $35 Million spending plan for the next fiscal year. The approval vote was unanimous of the members attending.
The budget is not expected to cause a property tax increase, at 131.3 mils, even though it is 4.45% higher than the previous year’s budget (about $33.6M).
The budget was adopted on 2nd and final reading, after there were no comments in a public hearing.
Property taxes are expected to account for $1,349,109 of the $35,084,895 in revenues, according to figures published by the City. Final action was taken at a called meeting of the council, which had its regular monthly meeting on June 2.
Mayor Randy Randall said the budget figures had been reviewed many times by the finance committee and council as a whole.
Re-sales of electricity supplied by the PMPA (Piedmont Municipal Power Agency based in Greer) provide about $1 Million from the Utility Fund to the General Fund to operate the city government. Projected revenues and projected expenditures for the City include both the utility and general funds.
Council Member Anita Williams had said at an earlier meeting that, despite no tax or electric rate increases, the City was charging an additional amount for residential trash pick-up. She had told the council previously that she would be unable to attend the June 23 meeting.
Also, following a closed session, council agreed to appoint retired Laurens County Attorney Sandy Cruickshanks as the Municipal Judge. Council did not take action on another closed session matter - the potential sale of 28 acres at the Recreation Center site on Hwy 56. Council approved on final reading creation of a new RS-3 zoning designation, zoning for a residential development on North Adair Street, and annexation/zoning for a residential development on Hwy 56, “the Dutton property,” adjacent to the Recreation Center, which is expected to have its official opening this summer. These three ordinance changes were made on recommendations of the Clinton Planning Commission.
