Greenville's $237 million budget includes fee increases, no tax hikes. Here's what to know.
City officials passed the fiscal year 2024 budget Monday night at second reading, dedicating millions to Greenville's infrastructure, affordable housing, economic development and parks.
The $237 million budget capitalizes on the city's explosive growth, funding a hefty list of capital improvement projects and shoring up infrastructure with a 3.5% wastewater fee increase and $1 monthly solid waste fee increase. The new budget does not include any tax increases.
The city is also budgeting a 4% cost-of-living adjustment for city employees, adding more police officers and firefighters and a new Department of Engineering Services.
Here's what's in the fiscal year 2024 budget:
Affordable housing and infrastructure
The city is dedicating $3.75 million to affordable housing this fiscal year thanks to a change in state law that enables local governments to now use accommodations and hospitality taxes for housing needs.
They are also adding 10 new police officers and vehicles and five new firefighters. The city will not fill five positions this year to offset that cost.
Officials will use $19 million from the Neighborhood Infrastructure Bond for paving, sidewalks, traffic issues and community center improvements, including $1.8 million for Nicholtown Community Center upgrades.
A new city department, the Department of Engineering Services, will relocate engineering services from within the existing public works department and be established separately with a different director.
The city will also take on more debt to finance the City Hall relocation to the Bowater Building near Falls Park.
Economic development
The city is budgeting $1.5 million to implement its strategic plan this year, including adding more economic development staff and working with local partners to attract and support more entrepreneurs in the city.
Officials are also working to fill Greenville's Economic Development Director role, which was vacated by Merle Johnson earlier this year.
City Council also voted Monday night to establish a nonprofit that will serve as the city's economic development arm to oversee economic development efforts.
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Public transit and mobility
Greenville Transit Authority will get $1.6 million this fiscal year, including support for the city trolley system.
The city is also adding traffic management technology through the NIB, such as travel time monitoring and emergency signal preemption, which is a system that interrupts normal traffic signals to give right of way to an incoming emergency vehicle.
The city is also budgeting money for neighborhood connections to the Swamp Rabbit Trail, including $1 million for the Laurens Road trail connection, and $250,000 for Swamp Rabbit Trail bridge maintenance.
Parks and recreation
$3.4 million of Greenville's budget will go to parks and recreation line items like an inclusive playground at Cleveland Park and court rehabilitation and pickleball space at Gower Park.
The city is also dedicating more money to the Arts in Public Places commission, which secures and promotes public art for placement throughout the city, and more money for new city events like Jazz Fest.
Officials are budgeting $500,000 to purchase land to preserve open space in the city, a major goal outlined in the city's comprehensive plan.
Greenways, trails, bike and pedestrian safety enhancements will also get about $2.7 million.
The full list of proposed capital improvement projects can be viewed at greenvillesc.gov.
Macon Atkinson is the city watchdog reporter for The Greenville News. She's powered by long runs and strong coffee. Follow her on Twitter @maconatkinson.
This article originally appeared on Greenville News: Greenville SC has new 2024 budget. Plans to shore infrastructure, parks
