Greenville Touts Strong Finances, Considers Next Year’s Budget: City Council Notes

Greenville Touts Strong Finances, Considers Next Year’s Budget: City Council Notes

Greenville City Council reviewed and provided feedback on a draft of the budget for fiscal year 2025 during a workshop on April 8. As of now, approximately $50.8 million is proposed for the city’s capital improvement program. There are currently no proposed tax increases or increases in business license rates for the next fiscal year, which begins July 1.

“Our city’s financial condition remains strong and we have sufficient debt capacity,” City Manager Shannon Lavrin said. The city also maintains strong bond ratings. Greenville is recognized as one of one three South Carolina cities to receive a AAA rating from S&P and the only entity in the state to receive a AAA rating from Moody’s, S&P and Fitch.

Mayor Knox White said the city’s strong financial position allows for council’s priorities to be reflected in the budget. These priorities include:

• Affordable housing and neighborhoods
• Public safety
• Transportation and mobility
• Recreation and open space
• Economic development

The city’s plans to continue investing $2.5 million to support the creation of affordable housing in the preliminary capital improvement budget. Approximately $1.5 million in local and state accommodations tax funding is proposed to go towards workforce housing. Additional money for affordable housing is suggested in a new Capital Improvement Program (CIP) line item for $550,000. This funding would be flexible and could be used by the city to address homelessness in the community.

The draft budget includes a general fund debt issuance for $18 million for the second round of the city’s Neighborhood Infrastructure Bond. The NIB supports projects focused on roads, bridges, sidewalks, community centers and more. Funding for public safety projects and initiatives are included in the preliminary budget such as replacing the Stone Avenue Fire Station, which opened in 1950. Lavrin said the city is moving forward with this project and has released a bid request. A $6 million general fund debt issuance is proposed for the project. Approximately $1.2 million for fire station improvements is also suggested in the budget.

Lavrin said the draft budget includes proposed funding to hire seven additional police officers including the city’s new park police. These officers will be liaisons throughout the city’s parks. The budget also suggests $1.1 million for police body cameras.

Transportation and mobility projects are proposed to receive additional funding in the FY25 budget. For example, the draft budget suggests the city invest more funding toward creating a pump track and skate park near the Greenville Downtown Airport. Other projects and initiatives suggested to receive funding include:

• Greenways, trails, and bike/pedestrian improvements
• Wade Hampton improvements
• Sidewalk expansion projects (NSTEP)
• Augusta Street improvements
• Street lighting maintenance and upgrades
• Traffic calming
• Swamp Rabbit Trail bridges
• Church Street Bridge aesthetics
• Verdae Swamp Rabbit Trail underpass

Council reviewed investing funding for open space acquisition to allow the city to purchase property to use as parks and green space. The budget also suggests budgeting $2 million for a new playground at Cleveland Park.

Economic development initiatives are proposed to receive funding including $25,000 for the Greenville City Economic Development Corp.

To raise the solid waste fund’s projected FY25 revenue, the budget proposes a $3 fee increase for curbside solid waste collection services. This increase would change the monthly rate for residents from $18 to $21.

Future Dates on the FY25 Budget Calendar:

• Second budget meeting on April 22
• Public hearing and first reading before council on May 13
• Anticipated adoption of FY25 budget on May 20

Other Council Notes from April 8 Meeting:

Council authorized the purchase of a 0.72-acre property at 903 West Washington St. to create workforce housing. Initial approval was also given by council to appropriate $965,000 to buy the property.

Council approved the purchase of approximately 12.66 acres of land on Ridge Road near Conestee Park to preserve it as open space. Council also gave initial approval to appropriate up to $378,000 from the Open Space Fund to purchase the property.

Council gave final approval to the annexation of roughly 131 acres of Greenville Country Club’s Chanticleer Course into the city limits.