Clinton City Council on Monday evening approved a blueprint of next year's spending of $35 Million, a 4.45% increase according to an advertisement submitted by the City of Clinton (in the June 4 Chronicle).
The budget does not forecast a property tax increase, as the City needs to generate $1,349,109 from 131.3 mils of property tax. It does, however, propose a sanitation fee increase, according to Council Member Anita Williams, which would be in addition to last year's sanitation fee increase and the year before's utilities increase, she said.
Williams voted "no" on 1st reading because, she said, the proposed budget increases City spending by $1 Million, instead of making cuts necessary to save money for the citizens. She is not in favor of a proposed 5% across the board salary increase for all city employees - she favors, instead, a tiered system were the lowest paid employees receive the highest pay increase. City officials say for some time now, Clinton has been losing employees to other businesses and governments that pay more.
City Manager Joey Meadors said he talked to a valued employee just Monday morning who could be moving on because of pay. "It's not recent," Meadors said. "It's been happening for some time now."
Last year's pay raises for Clinton employees was 2.5%.
Final reading approval of the budget could come June 23, at a called council meeting, which Williams said she would be unable to attend. The City wants to have the budget in place by July 1 (also on June 23, School Districts 56 and 55 will have final budget readings, as will the Laurens County Council; the board of the Laurens County Water & Sewer Commission considers its budget for final action on June 24).
The City Council also gave 1st reading approval to 2 zoning matters - 46 acres on North Adair St. to R1 on the front parcel and R2 on the rear parcel, accessed by Mt. Moriah Church Road; and annexation and R2 zoning for 29 acres on Hwy 56 in front of the City Recreation Center. Both developments have received initial approvals by the City Planning Commission, pending acceptance of subdivision plans.
Council agreed to give a $15,000 bonus to Assistant City Manager/Finance Director Carl Stevens for his work as Interim City Manager. Council was told design architect Blake Sanders will conduct visioning meetings with council and citizens about the Clinton Economic Development Corporation-owned property on Musgrove Street where businesses were destroyed by an August, 2024 fire. Council was told the week of July 21 can be set aside for discussion of and action on a new City Plan. Council appointed Meadors to the city's position on the Laurens County Development Corporation's board of directors.
Council authorized placement of a Revolutionary War history/information kiosk at The Depot highlighting 4 important battles near Clinton, in advance of the 2026 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. This is at no cost to the City. Council also authorized seeking grant money for its Safe Streets program, with the goal of eliminating car-pedestrian accidents in the City of Clinton.
Council was told the Uptown Vance Park splash pad should be ready to go by the middle of this month, and the Recreation Center has seen completion of the concession stand/scorers box building and is awaiting extended dry weather for planting and setting of grass on playing fields.
