Budgets, rule changes and tax abatements: 4 impactful decisions made by County Council

Greenville County Council started 2023 by welcoming four new members and one returning member to the council.

Joey Russo (District 17), Benton Blount (District 19), Rick Bradley (District 26) and Dan Tripp (District 28) were all sworn in at the beginning of the year.

At the beginning of the term, members could agree on one thing: unity.

"I think that my big thing is unity — unification," Chris Harrison (District 21) told Greenville News in January.

Throughout the year, the Republican majority council passed several ordinances or resolutions, including setting new rules for public speaking and passing two budget ordinances.

Here are some of the top decisions made by Greenville County Council in 2023.

Council changes public comment process

During the first meeting of the new legislative session on Jan. 24, council members approved a new rules package for the next two years to change the process of public comment regarding proposed legislation.

The rule change means public comment can only be made on legislation after it went through a committee and returned to the floor.

Recently, at the last Greenville County Council meeting for the year, councilman Stan Tzouvelekas introduced a new resolution intending to revoke the license of Greenville Women’s Clinic, one of three abortion clinics in South Carolina.

Although many packed the chamber to speak either in favor or opposition of the resolution, nobody was able to speak as the resolution had not yet gone through committee.

Council approves FY2024-2025 and 2025-2026 budget

In June, Greenville County passed the 2024 budget, with the 2025 budget being approved the following month on July 18, but not without heavy debate.

During the June meeting, council approved the $785 million budget, which helped the county narrowly evade the threat of a government shutdown, by 8 to 4. Council members Rick Bradley, Benton Blount, Steve Shaw and Stan Tzouvelekas voted against the ordinance.

Council Vice Chairwoman Liz Seman, Council Chairman Dan Tripp, and Councilmembers Mike Barnes, Ennis Fant, Chris Harrison, Butch Kirven, and Alan Mitchell voted in favor, as did Joey Russo, who initially voted no at the first and second reading.

The following month, council approved the 2024-2025 budget.

Council introduced the budgets at the same time, each carrying a tax increase of seven mills, raising taxes by $28 for every $100,000 in value.

Dan Tripp, Liz Seman, Butch Kirven, Joey Russo, Michael Barnes, Chris Harrison, Alan Mitchell and Ennis Fant all voted in favor of approving the budget, with Steve Shaw, Stan Tzouvelekas, Rick Bradley and Benton Blount all voting in opposition.

The following month, in August, South Carolina lawmakers filed a lawsuit against Greenville County and its council claiming the budget process broke state and county law.

State Representatives Mike Burns, Patrick Haddon, Adam Morgan, Alan Morgan, Ashley Trantham and State Senator Dwight Loftis represent the plaintiffs, along with a non-profit, the South Carolina Public Interest Foundation.

The lawsuit alleges Greenville County Council members violated the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) after holding a secret meeting. The lawsuit also claims Greenville County’s biennium budget process breaks county and state laws that say budgets must be passed yearly.

Greenville County and the council denied all allegations.

Council appoints six vacant seats for Library Board

In November, Greenville County Council appointed Elizabeth Collins, Joe Poore, Stephanie Cunningham, Allan Hill, Tommy Hughes and Marcia Moston for six vacant seats on the contentious Greenville County Library System Board of Trustees.

Out of the six appointed, Cunningham represents the lone newcomer, replacing William Pinkston, an incumbent. Members serve four-year terms on the 11-person board. Brian Aufmuth, Kenneth Baxter, Gene Beckner, James Hoard and Kristen Odom comprise the remainder of the board.

The appointment came weeks after the Library Board voted 6 to 4 to remove themed displays from all facilities unless concerning “paid holidays observed by both Greenville County government and Greenville County Library System.”

The decision comes on the heels of a months-long debate about gay pride displays being allowed in the libraries.

Greenville County Council approved special source credit for Woven Project

The controversial Woven development planned for Pendleton Street in West Greenville was narrowly approved for a tax abatement by county council.

Approved for the special source credit in August by Greenville County’s Finance Committee, the Woven development’s tax abatement was granted in Sept.

Due to the Workforce and Affordability Policy approved last year, tax abatements for projects including 20% of its total housing units for affordable and working housing can be approved.

The Woven development includes 20,0000 square feet of retail and commercial offerings. 214 residential units are planned, including 44 units for affordable housing.

The council did not have the authority to approve or reject the project from being developed as it sits in Greenville’s city limits. Greenville city council approved the project in Jan.

Councilmembers Joey Russo, Michael Barnes, Chris Harrison, Liz Seman, Ennis Fant, Butch Kirven and Dan Tripp voted "yes" to approve the credit. Benton Blount, Steve Shaw, Stan Tzouvelekas, Alan Mitchell and Rick Bradley voted "no."

Savannah covers Greenville County politics and growth & development. Reach her at smoss@gannett.com or follow her on X @savmoss.

This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Here are 4 decisions county council made in Greenville