Beaufort’s proposed budget: Park upgrades coming, garbage fees up. Worker raises?

A $57.7 million 2024 budget — which designates millions for improvements to parks, streets and stormwater infrastructure and also includes raises for employees and garbage fee increases — is being considered by the Beaufort City Council.

City officials says its a good budget that will address needs in the city without increasing the city’s tax rate. One resident has criticized the city for spending too much.

Final approval is scheduled Tuesday, June 13. The budget will go into effect on July 1.

One major difference in the overall 2024 budget, City Manager Scott Marshall says, is it is much larger than in previous years.

That’s because, for the first time, all of the city’s capital expenses — money budgeted for big projects like street and park improvements — is included in the overall budget.

Previously, Marshall said, most capital project expenditures were tracked separately and not included in the overall budget.

Adding the capital fund to the overall budget consolidates city funds, Marshall says, which makes construction spending more transparent and accountable.

The 2024 capital fund is $27.1 million. That makes up 48 percent of the overall budget.

Here’s a dozen things to know about the 2024 budget:

1. Major park upgrades are planned

A $6 million improvement to Southside Park, which includes a new playground, pavilions, parking and half basketball court, and an upgrade at Washington Street Park, are planned. The city already has added playground equipment at Washington Park; a new pavilion is planned next. The total cost of that project is $925,000, which has included major grants.

The city is planning to borrow against its Parks and Tourism Fund for a portion of the Southside Park costs but how much at this stage has not been determined. The fund is funded by local and state accommodation taxes on hotels, motels and short term rentals and local hospitality taxes on prepared foods and drinks.

2. Stormwater infrastructure is getting fixed

Some $17 million in stormwater drainage projects on Calhoun, Charles, Craven and Port Republic, King and Bayard streets, using grants and American Rescue Plan Act funds, are planned to address flooding problems in those areas.

3. Utilities to be buried along Allison Road

A streetscape/stormwater project will be completed on Allison Road, which includes burying utilities. The city, working with Beaufort County, also plans to construct a parallel road to help divert traffic from Boundary Street.

4. Garbage fees are increasing

Monthly garbage fees will increase by $2.50 a month to $22.50, a 12.5 percent increase. The jump is necessary due to the city’s contract with Capital Waste Services, the city said. The garbage fees will be billed annually at $270.

5. Mills are dropping

The overall millage rate of 73.9 is a reduction of 4.3 mills. The city reduced the millage rate because the value of a mill increased — from $108,764 to $128,731 — after Beaufort County conducted a reassessment

6. The city is hiring 5 new employees

The city is hiring the equivalent of five full-time employees: A geographical information systems (GIS) manager, three school resource officers (two are state funded), a staff architect in The Community Development Department and a part-time records manager in the Police Department. The hiring of three school resource officers will ensure an SRO will be stationed at every public school in the city.

7. Employees are getting pay increase

While the budget is bigger due to the addition of the capital projects fund, general fund expenditures will increase less than 1%, from $23,658,750 to $23,454,433. Employee pay and benefits comprise 57% of the city’s expenses. The city is planing a 5% cost of living raise for all employees. The city says those increases are offset by decreases in expenses in other areas.

8. Downtown will be open later

To stimulate business, the city plans to spend $115,000 for a new “Downtown Twilight Hours” initiative to stimulate businesses to remain open in the evening in the Historic District.

9. New newsletter planned

The city plans to publish a city newsletter twice a year that will be printed and mailed to all residents. The cost is $28,250.

10. Filing a permit will be easier

New software that will allow residents and developers to submit site, construction and other planning documents electronically, a standard in urban planning. The city also is launching a new mobile app that will make it easier to submit maintenance or public works concerns to the city.

11. Spending plans criticized

One resident, Graham Trask, a real estate owner and developer, questioned the budget during a public hearing earlier this month.

He said his questions have been met with indifference by the city, which accused Trask of spreading misinformation.

The $27 million earmarked for capital projects, Trask said, was “whopping.” He also criticized the city for planning to borrow funds for the $6 million Southside Park upgrade — it must be some park, he said — and the 5 percent employee pay increase.

Trask noted that the city approved a previous 5 percent pay increase in January.

While conceding that the general fund is about the same as the 2023 amended budget, Trask said, it is $3.8 million above the fiscal year 2022.

Trask, noting it’s a reassessment year, also says it is not true that taxes will go down in Beaufort.

12. City: It’s a good budget

Mayor Stephen Murray defended the budget, saying the city has done a good job of meeting the needs of residents while keeping taxes at reasonable rates.

Because it is a property reassessment year, Murray noted, which is required every 5 years, most of the city’s properties will increase in value. That increase in value may result in taxes increasing for some residents, but the city’s portion of the tax mills is going down to offset increases caused by reassessment, he said. The city’s goal, he said, is for the city’s portion of taxes to remain the same.

“It’s going to be a bit gray this year because of that reassessment,” Murray said.

The $27 million for upgrades to stormwater, streetscapes and parks is “sorely needed,” Murray said.

The wage increases, Murray said, are needed to keep the best employees in local government because of the area’s increasing cost of living and housing. Many of the employees who will be receiving the pay raises, Murray added, are “front-line folks” such as police, firefighters and public works employees.