[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6566601,"mediaKeyId","3204128-2787ce15e694dea716d47017aa43f1a0","parentId",3204128,"title","Votes at a glance: Hilton Head Island council actions, May 6, 2025","audioSeconds",1553,"startMs",4947000,"endMs",6500000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204128-2787ce15e694dea716d47017aa43f1a0&start=4947&end=6500","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204128-2787ce15e694dea716d47017aa43f1a0/thumbnail_4947000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6566601/Hilton-Head-Island/Beaufort-County/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Hilton-Head-Island-council-actions-May-6-2025","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566601-31fd4a14324408ada9e93c976d015411/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183255&Signature=ELjvkxl~917BytqE6NBhNcdpxG7RSNMKsqt8Chdm7JujLDg026-pv66JYME6~c-e4SXHP11JvWQeLL055IhHEa66P7eeaDi512fUDiBGqBUbAo1ZtvPtVTK6FHc-GTZT9kDNulkSbKnqD94GL-ikHLD4jX2ZnuTyCGLr7WL9~-W4vZjr1PoJKqnr7aKjU92~69UNcxx9Uu-1-0sVqvyxAs6cnm2utKb7JS4GzBXVaMu1-h0IiZO8n5qooaJc8ma~N-jd44aCfPh~Vn8oxSp9z4HPjRJEFI1yosdDeRB7iDjNk9UpDVxEM3JC38lQFzdMnrFUBsRZU6bpNJXlGeuPNw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Hilton Head Island","date","2025-05-06T23:23:46Z","article","The Town Council of Hilton Head Island took the following formal actions on May 6, 2025. All recorded votes below were unanimous (7-0) unless noted.

- Adopt consolidated FY26 municipal budget (ordinance)
- Motion: Adopt the consolidated municipal budget for fiscal year 2026 ending 06/30/2026.
- Mover: Councilmember Bryson; Second: Councilmember Alfred.
- Outcome: Approved 7-0.
- Note: Detailed coverage of the adopted budget is reported in a separate article; council scheduled workshops and a second reading process for associated financing decisions.

- Approve issuance of tax-exempt bonds for Novant Health revenue financing (resolution under I.R.C. Section 147(f))
- Motion: Approve the purpose under Section 147(f) of the Internal Revenue Code for National Finance Authority issuance of not-to-exceed $855,000,000 tax-exempt bonds for the benefit of Novant Health, Inc.; no financial obligation to the town.
- Mover: Councilmember Bryson; Second: Councilmember Alfred.
- Outcome: Approved 7-0.
- Authority referenced: Internal Revenue Code Section 147(f) (public approval requirement for certain conduit financings).
- Local impact: Novant representatives said about $15,000,000 of the larger financing would be dedicated to Hilton Head Medical Center capital over the next several years; council was advised the town assumes no financial liability.

- Adopt ordinance authorizing an ingress/egress easement to Cordillo Courts and The Hedges (second reading)
- Motion: Authorize execution and delivery of an ingress/egress easement related to property at 104 Cordillo Parkway.
- Mover: Councilmember Alfred; Second: Councilmember Becker.
- Outcome: Approved 7-0.
- Note: This was the ordinance\u0000second reading and formalized the access easement discussed previously on April 8.

- Approve resolution governing an off-premises sign for Cordillo Courts and The Hedges
- Motion: Authorize an agreement setting expectations and maintenance rules for an identification sign on town-owned property at 104 Cordillo Parkway.
- Mover: Councilmember Price; Second: Councilmember Becker.
- Outcome: Approved 7-0.

- Approve first reading of ordinance amending FY25 budget to record recent land acquisitions
- Motion: Amend FY25 budget to appropriate funds for three recent land purchases (69 Pope Avenue for $2,900,000; 26 acres for Mitchellville using real estate transfer fee $1,800,000; and 1.98 acres on Beach City Road for $1,200,000), with some reimbursement expected from Beaufort County for part of the Mitchellville purchase.
- Mover: Councilmember Becker; Second: Councilmember Bryson.
- Outcome: Approved at first reading 7-0.

- Approve the Destination Marketing Organization FY26 marketing plan and budget (resolution)
- Motion: Approve the ATAX-funded DMO plan and budget for FY26.
- Mover: Councilmember Bryson; Second: Councilmember Alfred.
- Outcome: Approved 7-0.

- Ordinance (first reading) authorizing a tax-exempt lease/lease-purchase to finance past and future fire truck purchases
- Motion: Authorize execution and delivery of a tax-exempt lease agreement with a financial institution (not to exceed $8,000,000) to reimburse prior purchases and finance incoming apparatus; proceeds to be deposited to the hospitality tax fund for cash-flow and repayment.
- Mover: Councilmember Alfred; Second: Councilmember Becker.
- Outcome: First reading approved; council requested a wording clarification (change wording from \"may\" to \"shall\" regarding use of proceeds) and the change will be reflected on second reading. Staff said the lease form will include a non-appropriation clause and will not pledge the full faith-and-credit of the town.

Meeting context and public comments
- Resident Richard Beasy urged the council to hold at least one evening budget hearing to make it easier for full-time working residents to participate.
- Several public commenters raised issues including plastics and community transparency; these remarks were part of the public-comment section and did not change the council's formal votes.

This roundup lists formal actions taken on May 6 as shown in the meeting transcript. For a deeper account of the budget adoption and the DMO marketing plan debate, see the separate articles created from the same meeting record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Town Council Meeting Tuesday, May 6, 2025, 3:00 PM","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved the FY26 consolidated budget and a set of resolutions and ordinances including an authorization for Novant Health financing approval, easement and signage agreements, ATAX marketing plan, a FY25 budget amendment for land purchases, and a first-reading lease to finance fire trucks (with an amendment requested).","taxTitle","Hilton Head Island, Beaufort County, South Carolina","taxId",5068,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566606,"Hilton Head Island tourism bureau wins council approval for FY26 marketing plan; council questions data and strategy",3987,6708000,10695000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204128-2787ce15e694dea716d47017aa43f1a0&start=6708&end=10695","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204128-2787ce15e694dea716d47017aa43f1a0/thumbnail_6708000.jpg","/articles/6566606/Hilton-Head-Island/Beaufort-County/South-Carolina/Hilton-Head-Island-tourism-bureau-wins-council-approval-for-FY26-marketing-plan-council-questions-data-and-strategy","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566606-9efc11538e74f4cac01a01a73c3f94be/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183255&Signature=YW~l5rwRMzX4mp2ijsiTiqUg7HqTRW4WzSfw1m8isZ6lEjcfrmRCk2wYCAUFfoPxTzJMiZLVSVn~8A7fG87K9nECZuAl9mZ1YYk0hQ8g0gUMmmKS9nz6DNR8MHZkWOxS~jP-L3~M63Ga8j-wY6PcipSSrk8gJ0-7TNbB~EZe8NkDi2gQ7Mb99m2rCeo~WH2rWtUhQ4nqlB4e7WkSYIsXaGZpJ9rc23Zlf4YxB5by-8jtz0sKcv2JE-kpMtXmFztFST0~tY06T-tcx-RopTFclfJpU9qF6D5GWm9prFRKTuUDaeP--bgRDdNxzUgdc5t8BT2is9OXHrdpAIA0Xw~QSw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The town council on May 6 approved the visitor bureau\u0000\u0000(operating under the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber of Commerce) proposed destination marketing plan and FY26 budget, allocating larger shares to digital marketing and maintaining media partnerships and public relations, presenters said.

Ariana Pernice, who leads the visitor and convention bureau, told council the bureau will focus on five destination pillars (ecotourism, history, arts and culture, recreation and wellness) and use a mix of owned digital channels, paid digital advertising and media partnerships to drive \"handshakes\" (click-throughs) to local businesses. The bureau reported 3.3 million website visits in 2024 and roughly 1.5 million partner click-throughs from the site.

Budget and strategy points
- The bureau presented a proposed FY26 marketing budget that shifts more spending toward digital marketing (proposed $1,200,000) and reduces the media partnerships line (proposed $718,000, down from $960,000 in the prior year request). Representatives said the change reflects evolving consumer behavior and a desire to own more of the digital customer journey.
- The plan includes a dedicated golf-marketing allocation (presented as $200,000) to maintain a dedicated microsite for the island\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000's 23 courses and capture RFP leads for group golf business; the bureau said this supports local courses and the destination's golf economy.
- Public relations and earned media work were highlighted; bureau staff cited placements and partnerships with outlets such as Cond\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000\u0000e Nast Traveler, Southern Living and Garden & Gun as examples of earned coverage that supports ongoing marketing.

Council questions and data concerns
- Council members pressed for more seasonal detail (shoulder-season vs. summer metrics) and asked the bureau to break out hotel and homes-and-villas performance separately in future reports.
- Councilmember Tunner raised a concern about the visitor-profile research: she noted the College of Charleston visitor survey reported a drop in completed survey responses (the presentation and council discussion cited a fall from roughly 2,900 responses in one prior year to about 1,040 in the most recent year) and asked whether that decline undermines the profile's reliability. Pernice and bureau staff acknowledged the survey's limitations and said they are working to blend traditional survey intercepts with real-time data sources such as Placer.ai and to press the research partner for improvements.
- Councilmembers asked for more regular, seasonal reporting to assess return on investment through shoulder seasons and to track festival and event-driven demand.

Council action
- The finance administrative committee, the accommodations tax (ATAX) committee and the town-wide marketing council had reviewed the plan before the full council meeting. Councilmember Bryson moved to approve the destination marketing plan and budget; Councilmember Alfred seconded. The council voted 7-0 to approve.

What this means for businesses and visitors
- The bureau said its digital front door, HiltonHeadIsland.org, generated more than 3.3 million visits in 2024 and created about 1.5 million outbound connections to island businesses. The FY26 plan emphasizes converting those site visits to reservations and RFP leads through targeted digital campaigns, PR placements and a vacation-planner publication.

Speakers and attributions in this report are drawn from the meeting record: Ariana Pernice (Visitor & Convention Bureau), Ray Deal (Chamber controller), Councilmembers Bryson, Alfred, Becker and Tunner, and bureau PR lead Charlie Clark.","The Hilton Head Island-Bluffton Chamber\u0000Visitor and Convention Bureau presented and won Town Council approval of its fiscal year 2026 marketing plan and budget, emphasizing digital marketing and international outreach while triggering council questions about research methods and seasonal targeting.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6566610,"Hilton Head Island adopts $174.7 million FY 2026 budget, lowers property millage",5031,1009000,6040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3204128-2787ce15e694dea716d47017aa43f1a0&start=1009&end=6040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3204128-2787ce15e694dea716d47017aa43f1a0/thumbnail_1009000.jpg","/articles/6566610/Hilton-Head-Island/Beaufort-County/South-Carolina/Hilton-Head-Island-adopts-1747-million-FY-2026-budget-lowers-property-millage","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6566610-7c9455da645d31487238460a179f02d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771183255&Signature=JJKvnLT-Tzku4qoh7A~Catb30wHic9n7TeMpe79TMSlbZxtEB5UeMYX-WYpHIUk73mZbkY3kctS43m3qFLDBmYp0SmFXa-sgYXnCJd3ArPsoQMNRJHM5hp5Gch8YDRYJm3hteWlL3jMX~nPD1A1S2oJiliVqKEeSdDOLF3TfKC5FSY5A6exjbqhoNOwnTPEbvOPLADXkbapC~2KlGa4aHZ16UFyogH2eOkZitpEHZDWO-I-bdveOGeqULsCG2lFu1U~01QBPhtyAQBFNnZ9F54BBa~XlsWKx7JKnr6Yr4emaQk03nMRYKwTj4ho34oSMSaP63n5bfOWS~gncrkag-w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Hilton Head Island Town Council on May 6 adopted a consolidated fiscal year 2026 budget of $174,700,000 and approved lowering the town property millage from 21.4 to 19.4 mills, Town Manager Mark Orlando told the council during a public hearing and presentation earlier in the meeting.

The budget, Orlando said, is \"structurally balanced,\" meaning recurring revenues are intended to cover recurring expenditures without drawing on prior-year fund balance. The plan allocates funds across six major town funds and highlights a major capital program this year: beach renourishment with an opinion of probable cost of $47,500,000. Orlando also told council the capital program includes $77.7 million in CIP projects overall.

Why it matters: The budget both reduces property tax rates and sets aside money for a high-cost beach renourishment project that the town expects to fund from a mix of cash and possible debt. It also increases several reserve minimums and preserves operating funding for public safety, stormwater, and housing initiatives.

Major figures and changes
- Consolidated budget total: $174,700,000 (all six funds).
- General fund proposed: $59,754,000 (a 4.46% decrease year over year).
- Debt service fund: $18,864,000.
- Stormwater utility revenue: $11,100,000.
- Housing fund: $3,900,000.
- Anticipated transfer-in total across funds: $90,560,000.
- Millage reduced from 21.4 to 19.4 mills; town manager highlighted that property values and alternate revenues helped enable the reduction.
- Beach renourishment: $47,500,000 (opinion of probable cost; lower bids have been received but a contract was not concluded at the time of the presentation).

Staffing and operating highlights
- Orlando proposed two new full-time positions: an integrated pest management specialist and a parking program manager (described as a community code enforcement officer focused on parking). He also proposed converting a 30-hour part-time position to full time.
- Salaries and benefits are up (a proposed up-to-4% performance-based pay increase and employer pension/insurance cost increases); operating budgets were trimmed roughly 6.8% after line-item scrubs.
- Contracted public safety costs were shown as decreasing overall in the plan.

Reserves, debt and capital
- Council packet shows a proposed adjustment to the beach preservation fund minimum balance from 12 to 20 (the presentation used those numbers to describe the recommended minimum); Orlando said the change was intended to strengthen preparedness for the renourishment project.
- Debt service fund balance carried a significant surplus (Orlando said about $14.8 million) and staff noted the possibility of using short-term debt or callable bonds to help fund beach work after further council discussion.
- The town manager said town debt has been reduced substantially in recent years and the proposed budget plans $7.3 million of scheduled principal payments in FY26 and contemplates $7.4 million of callable beach-preservation special obligation bonds when council decides the funding strategy.

Public process and next steps
- Orlando presented the plan as part of a public hearing at the May 6 meeting; he told council and the public the presentation would be followed by two workshops (scheduled May 12 and May 13 in the packet) and a second-and-final reading June 3.
- Several councilmembers thanked staff for early release of materials and requested an additional evening budget hearing so residents who work during the day can attend. Resident Richard Beasy spoke at the May 6 public hearing asking the council to schedule at least one budget meeting in the evening to hear working residents.

Council action
- Councilmember Bryson moved to adopt the consolidated FY26 budget ordinance; Councilmember Alfred seconded. The council voted 7-0 in favor.

What the council emphasized in debate
- Multiple councilmembers praised the town manager and staff for balancing the budget while preserving services.
- Council discussion touched on reserves policy, the use of ATAX (accommodations tax) transfers to support infrastructure projects, stormwater projects, Gullah Geechee CDC funding and the housing fund, and the sequencing and realistic timing of capital projects (for example, some projects remain in design and permitting and will not be constructed in FY26).

Speakers quoted or referenced in this report are drawn from the meeting record: Town Manager Mark Orlando; Mayor Alan R. Perry; Councilmembers Becker, Bryson, Brown, Alfred, Tunner and Desimone; and a public commenter, Richard Beasy.

The council adopted the budget on a unanimous 7-0 vote and scheduled the second reading and related workshops described by Orlando. The town manager and staff said they will return with proposed language for debt or financing of the beach project after the budget is adopted and following the finance and administrative committee discussions.","Town Council on May 6 approved a $174.7 million consolidated budget for fiscal year 2026, cutting the town\u0000property millage from 21.4 to 19.4 mills and funding a $47.5 million beach renourishment project while increasing some reserves and preserving staffing for key programs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Hilton Head Island council actions, May 6, 2025

Hilton Head Island tourism bureau wins council approval for FY26 marketing plan; council questions data and strategy

Hilton Head Island adopts $174.7 million FY 2026 budget, lowers property millage