Greenville City Council approved the first reading of the city’s $272.3 million operating budget for fiscal year 2025. The budget was voted on following a public hearing held May 13. Council also gave initial approval to the $51.3 million budget for the city’s capital improvement program (CIP). No tax increases or increases to business license rates are included in the budget. The city’s solid waste fee will be increased by $3 per month.
City Manager Shannon Lavrin said the overall budget reflects the council’s priorities for the city. These include investing in affordable housing and neighborhoods, public safety, transportation and mobility, recreation and open space, and economic development.
Several community members including representatives from the Greenville Housing Fund, Greenville County Habitat for Humanity, and the Greenville Organized for Accountable Leadership commented on the city’s support of affordable housing and what more must be done.
In next year’s budget, the city plans to continue investing $2.5 million to support the creation of affordable housing. Approximately $1.4 million in local and state accommodations tax funding will also go toward workforce housing. The budget includes a new CIP line item of $550,000 that can also be used for affordable housing initiatives.
Along with specifically financing affordable housing, City Manager Shannon Lavrin said the city is looking at other strategies to support the creation of affordable housing, including investing in sidewalks and transportation. “It all works together. You can’t have one without the other,” Lavrin said.
The budget includes $18 million for the second round of the city’s Neighborhood Infrastructure Bond. The CIP budget also invests:
- $8.9 million for public safety initiatives
- $4.85 million for parks and recreation initiatives
- $3.1 million for roads, bridges and streetscape projects
- $1.25 million for parking garage rehabilitation projects
- $1.65 million for economic development initiatives
The city’s projected revenue for the 2025 fiscal year is $134.3 million and the projected expenses are $139.6 million. To cover the difference, the city plans to use a surplus from fiscal year 2024.
The second reading of the budget will take place May 20. If approved, the budget takes effect July 1.
The city’s Accommodations Tax Committee presented recommendations to council on how to use the local accommodations tax funds for the upcoming fiscal year. The city has a total of $4.1 million in available funding for tourism and other cultural activities.
The committee has proposed awarding $3.4 million to over 40 local organizations and events. Some of these events include Artisphere, Fall for Greenville, euphoria and more. VisitGreenvilleSC was awarded $1.35 million in funding along with additional funding for individual projects.
A portion of the accommodations tax funding was also set aside to support the creation of affordable housing.
