[{"_1":2,"_87":-5,"_88":-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],{"_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",6558311,"mediaKeyId","3273249-645aa7302bb672a2f41f0fc8c766dafa","parentId",3273249,"title","Votes at a glance: Florence council advances several ordinances, a contested annexation and adopts resolutions naming Veterans Park amphitheater and Lupus Month","audioSeconds",1462,"startMs",898000,"endMs",2360000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3273249-645aa7302bb672a2f41f0fc8c766dafa&start=898&end=2360","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3273249-645aa7302bb672a2f41f0fc8c766dafa/thumbnail_898000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6558311/Florence-City/Florence-County/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-Florence-council-advances-several-ordinances-a-contested-annexation-and-adopts-resolutions-naming-Veterans-Park-amphitheater-and-Lupus-Month","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558311-1290c549b43f11b5161f84da9ba2f550/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159436&Signature=Rh1rpcoO7V22ApMKZhCKpF~KeUOWs6J8IqiWJ5bnkuQ92TVb15SFP6rS60hu-z3BIDJiMBotchq9156Ee~wTeeXxFIA8NN18ikGsY4TzYd2ZTr41-vwldApPw6~NH2Khs~OtcxSKqE2wR5Xo1dBPwuJoP-t-~w9Lshx0ldTHaz~F2Ec6Tae6aMGY59qhM1JheANTdTicgNwlvCQ6mDEIAoWUNDiCPiKOA0Ml0~GUzhgKrBy2qCni2IA6x1cwcUYM2AFJc6p2iddOuu6TdxxYw4ezjKtMb3~vAYcg2TZH5QnXs0DeRUVpOxAHuLDV2zNKWxhJ5XMxLFlp7G5SctaizQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Florence South Carolina","date","2025-05-12T19:27:54.943Z","article","Florence City Council considered and acted on a package of ordinances, zoning requests and resolutions at its regular meeting. Several items drew limited discussion, while an annexation and rezoning petition for a 1.467-acre parcel near Villa Toscana prompted sustained public comment and council debate.

What the council approved and advanced (summary):
- Resolution 2025-15: Council voted to name the amphitheater at Florence Veterans Park for Colonel Beringer “Barry” Wingard Jr.; the resolution was sponsored by Mayor Pro Tem George Jabali and honored Wingard’s military and civic service. Family members attended and spoke briefly at the meeting.

- Resolution 2025-17: Council proclaimed May 2025 as Lupus Awareness Month; the sponsors were Councilman McCall and Councilman Smith. A local resident with lupus addressed council and thanked members for the recognition.

- Bill 2025-08 (second reading): Ordinance to adopt updated downtown design standards (second reading vote passed; council noted 1 nay on the record).

- Bill 2025-14 (second reading): Amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance regarding setbacks for communication towers. The amendment preserves the existing height-to-setback rule for towers generally and adds an alternate “fall zone” certification option for public-utility-owned towers when certified by a South Carolina-licensed engineer; council approved the amendment.

- Bill 2025-15 (second reading): Ordinance amending the Somerset Acre plan development on Jefferson Drive (approved at second reading).

- Bill 2025-16 (second reading): Ordinance to annex and zone property at 1006 West Street (Florence County tax map 90060-13-005) to NC 6.2 (approved at second reading).

- Bill 2025-18 (first reading/action taken): Ordinance to amend the FY2024–25 budget to move certain capital items into an early-purchase authorization; council approved the ordinance to use up to $1,111,600 from the 30% fund-balance reserve for early purchases.

- Bill 2025-19 (first reading): Ordinance to amend the Unified Development Ordinance regarding cemetery preservation. The amendment would require professional archaeological or equivalent documentation to map cemetery boundaries, deed existing cemetery lots separately with a minimum 20-foot access easement, provide a 25-foot buffer, and maintain or repair existing fences; planning commission recommended the amendment 6–1 with one abstention and council approved first reading.

- Bill 2025-20 (first reading): Ordinance to rezone 1203 Sotkin Avenue from CA (campus) to NC-6.1; council approved first reading. Staff said the property was formerly a church site and the owner proposes single-family detached homes or a small subdivision.

- Bill 2025-201 (first reading): Ordinance to annex and zone approximately 1.467 acres to NC-6.3 for a proposed townhome development near Villa Toscana. That item generated extended public comment. Several Villa Toscana residents spoke in opposition, citing the lot size (1.47 acres), the proposed unit count (applicant referenced about 25 units), heavy existing traffic on adjacent roads, the neighborhood’s investment in maintaining long entrance corridors, and concerns the project would be rentals rather than owner-occupied townhomes. The planning commission recommended annexation and NC-6.3 zoning by a 4–2 vote; council approved first reading but several councilmembers characterized the request as resembling spot zoning and asked for further review before the next reading. The property owner/applicant was reported not to have finalized purchase; the record shows active outreach between the developer and neighborhood but no agreement on concessions at the time of the meeting.

- Resolution (CDBG budget): The resolution to adopt the community development block grant budget for FY25–26 was deferred for further consideration; staff said the exact CDBG award amount would be known in a few days and noted pending national budget proposals could affect the program.

Public comments and planning notes: During the CDBG hearing, representatives from Helping Florence Flourish said they have dozens of home-repair applicants and requested $10,000 in city support; Meals on Wheels told council its waiting list for hot meals for homebound seniors had grown since the last report. Planning staff clarified that the NC-6.3 district allows a wide range of attached and detached residential development and that the code requires townhomes to be shown as subdividable on platting but does not compel final unit-by-unit sale rather than rental; several councilmembers observed the zoning alone would not guarantee owner-occupancy.

Process and next steps: Items that passed first reading will return for a second reading at a later meeting, and staff said annexation and development approvals will require formal development plans, stormwater and traffic review, and encroachment or driveway permits if new access is proposed through existing neighborhood entrances.

Ending: Council moved the meeting into executive session for legal and redevelopment discussions before adjourning.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of Florence South Carolina Live Stream","oneSentenceSummary","At its May meeting, Florence City Council voted on multiple ordinances and resolutions: it approved design and zoning changes, advanced an annexation and zoning request amid neighborhood opposition, adopted a cemetery-preservation amendment on first reading and passed two resolutions honoring a veteran and proclaiming Lupus Awareness Month.","taxTitle","Florence City, Florence County, South Carolina","taxId",4287,"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},6558315,"Florence council advances $145 million FY2025-26 budget with 7.5-mill increase to fund public safety cameras and capital needs",1060,1542000,2602000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3273249-645aa7302bb672a2f41f0fc8c766dafa&start=1542&end=2602","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3273249-645aa7302bb672a2f41f0fc8c766dafa/thumbnail_1542000.jpg","/articles/6558315/Florence-City/Florence-County/South-Carolina/Florence-council-advances-145-million-FY2025-26-budget-with-75-mill-increase-to-fund-public-safety-cameras-and-capital-needs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6558315-36cf890c7a687eb35b49b936dbce50d9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771159436&Signature=FYAptkyqjAlFcUOZ3wgkx-Azwh-QU2ZMN7tuR2tNhvPSinVvgDvldv42jf20wc2GPKGh4TQpg4VXUTodc2iAGcg3f1yH9iSEZtKoE4lryQJ0YcaZXyWWM9zfJis3fMBp4M0wE9YQOx3yqW-0CQJ62Cbo4kNqaqNqLrwaB~73riHVPqUSrEEU94NsLd-YHV0gPWQzoHB4dlX53RYMui0Vk-LjixdpMhTKFGOVcyTUvyUEbSTkiG3yAz31ZUlwEJWKuzX~A6iakVybnRhu9GTAt~PLnMkc2DD4WwL4222hetFNcMpryBsDZugBnhK6CXrgarZj~09sihHeEUZ0TM6CzA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Florence City Council members heard a presentation and public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and moved the plan forward after a series of questions and a separate vote on an early-purchase ordinance. The city manager and finance staff described a $145,011,050 total budget that includes a proposed 7.5 operating mill increase intended chiefly to fund public safety equipment, capital purchases and utility needs.

The city manager summarized the budget as a “balanced budget of $145,011,050” that reflects the council’s priorities and a cautious revenue outlook. Interim Finance Director Glenn Bodenheimer told council the maximum allowable millage increase under South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs guidance was 2.95% based on the consumer price index, with unused increases from the prior three years available for a larger cumulative change; staff said that flexibility allows up to 11.7 mills total if carried forward. The administration proposed a 7.5-mill increase that would raise the operating millage to 71.6 mills; debt service would remain at 4 mills, producing a combined proposed levy of 75.6 mills.

Why it matters: Council members said the extra property tax revenue will fund items they described as urgent for public safety and city operations, including more Flock license-plate-reading cameras, a downtown police officer, a K-9 unit, mobile data terminals for officers, upgrades to the sports complex and water-system work. Council members and staff repeatedly framed the increase as a response to reductions in expected state appropriations that had previously been planned to cover some public-safety and utility items.

Key budget details provided by staff include:
- General Fund (operating): $53,148,430
- General Fund debt service: $694,000
- Hospitality fund: $6,730,500 (includes transfer to athletics operations)
- Water & Sewer utilities enterprise fund: $49,359,700
- Stormwater utility enterprise fund: $1,799,600
- Water & sewer construction fund: $30,725,000
- Total all funds: $145,011,050

Public-safety funding and cameras: Council members discussed the demonstrated effectiveness of an initial 30 Flock cameras installed last year. Police and city staff reported that from July 2024 through March 2025 the system helped arrest 48 fugitives, recover 38 stolen vehicles, recover 35 stolen license plates, solve more than 20 crimes and locate seven missing people. Councilman Braddock and others said additional cameras would move the program from reactive to preventive policing. Staff noted some forthcoming cameras will be mobile and that coordination with Florence County law-enforcement (Sheriff Joy) is under way for areas that cross jurisdictions.

State appropriations shortfall: City officials said they requested about $16 million in state appropriations this year; late cuts at the state level eliminated or reduced those earmarks, forcing the city to cover some previously planned purchases and appropriations locally. The city manager told council a recent $1.2 million fire-apparatus purchase had come from prior state appropriations but that similar future items would now need local funding or alternate sources.

Early-purchase ordinance: Council approved (first reading/initial approval) an ordinance to use up to $1,111,600 of the city’s 30% fund-balance policy to make certain FY2025–26 capital purchases in the current year. Staff said the intent is to lock in prices and avoid cost increases amid economic uncertainty; the item was presented as a balancing tool in the FY25–26 budget process.

Public comment at the hearings: During the community-development-block-grant (CDBG) public hearing, representatives from Helping Florence Flourish and Meals on Wheels urged council to fund local home-repair and senior-meal programs. Helping Florence Flourish said it has 49 repair requests in the city; Meals on Wheels reported hundreds of seniors on its waiting list for home-delivered meals.

Council next steps: Staff will circulate draft master plans for sewer collection, water distribution and stormwater, and council signaled interest in further public information sessions. The proposed millage increase and related budget ordinances will return for additional readings as required by state law before final adoption.

Ending: City officials said they prefer to use reserves and local revenue to sustain services rather than cut programs, but they noted further budget choices will depend on the council’s direction at upcoming readings and on any later changes in state or federal funding.","City leaders presented a $145,011,050 proposed budget that includes a 7.5-mill operating tax increase to cover public safety equipment including additional Flock cameras, a downtown police officer, water utility projects and an early-purchase plan for capital items.","actionData","errors"]

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Votes at a glance: Florence council advances several ordinances, a contested annexation and adopts resolutions naming Veterans Park amphitheater and Lupus Month

Florence council advances $145 million FY2025-26 budget with 7.5-mill increase to fund public safety cameras and capital needs