Holding a public hearing at a called meeting Oct. 23, rather than waiting until the regular meeting on Nov. 6, a majority of Clinton City Council rejected city staff’s proposed Budget Amendment.
The amendment was recommended by the finance committee, which reportedly met twice in sessions unannounced, despite a state law requirement that public bodies’ committee meetings are required to be announced to the public.
The Budget Amendment was passed by the council on first reading by title earlier in October. Then, the City announced the proposed budget totals:
FY 2023-2024 revenue and expenditures: $30,305,165;
Budget Amendment: $32,147,778, change = 6.1%;
Current Millage: 128.6.
The $1.8 Million difference is driven by a 5% cost-of-living raise for employees (expense) and a residential electric rate increase (revenue).
The vote to reject the $32 Million Budget Amendment was 5-2. Mayor Randy Randall and Council Member Megan Walsh voted for the Budget Amendment. The meeting lasted 35 minutes.
The finance committee was requested to meet again, this time taking into consideration Council Member Anita Williams’ suggestion for these raises: 5% for hourly employees; those making $50,000 - $75,000, 3%; those over $75,000, 2%.
Two people spoke against the Budget Amendment, each receiving 2 minutes at the podium. Concerns were expressed about senior citizens whose Social Security increase for next year will be 3.2%.
Council did not entertain questions.
Williams said the full council does not have enough information to pass a budget. She said the number of city employees/positions is not clear and the promised audit about how the Rate Stabilization Fund has been spent down for operations has never been presented. This fund, she said, should have been used to prevent electric rate increases.
Council Member Danny Cook asked if evaluations had been done on all employees, except the city manager.
City Manager Tom Brooks said a cost-of-living raise does not depend on evaluations. But Cook and Council Member Ronnie Roth said the City in the past has determined cost-of-living raises based on salary levels.
“Somebody should know if they’re doing a good job or not,” Cook said.
“Yes, but the motion on the floor is second reading of the Budget Amendment,” Brooks responded.
Brooks said saving on the cost-of-living raises will not substantially decrease expenses, since the raises’ expense is $130,000. Overall, payroll expense is about half of the $1.8 Million increase from the FY2023-24 budget to the Budget Amendment, he said.
Randall said that’s about right - “we are labor intensive.”
The rest of the expenses driving up the $1.8 Million increase were not explained.
Roth said an increase in expenses is to be expected because of inflation, and the City should expect a modest increase in electric rates during times of inflation.
“We have had inflation hit us just like anyone else, and it has hit the City of Clinton. Sooner or later we are going to have to increase rates just because of the pressures of inflation and they have been tremendous. I am going to support Mrs. Williams on the graduated scale on the COLA, we have done it before.”
After many stated motions, and a discussion of tabling, the consensus of council was to start over.
“We should know how many employees the City of Clinton has,” Williams said.
“It varies from day to day. We hire people and we have people leave on a daily basis,” Brooks said.
When Williams insisted, Brooks said, “Well noted. I guess we’ll have to start over.”
Note -
The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act requires public bodies to post meeting notices 24 hours prior to meetings, in a publicly accessible place and on a website (if any). This is the provision that includes COMMITTEES in that requirement:
SECTION 30-4-20.
Definitions.
“Public body” means any department of the State, a majority of directors or their representatives of departments within the executive branch of state government as outlined in Section 1-30-10, any state board, commission, agency, and authority, any public or governmental body or political subdivision of the State, including counties, municipalities, townships, school districts, and special purpose districts, or any organization, corporation, or agency supported in whole or in part by public funds or expending public funds, including committees, subcommittees, advisory committees, and the like of any such body by whatever name known, and includes any quasi-governmental body of the State and its political subdivisions, including, without limitation, bodies such as the South Carolina Public Service Authority and the South Carolina State Ports Authority. …
Where Clinton posts agendas and minutes: https://www.cityofclintonsc.com
