[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-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",[32,76,88],{"_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":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6526455,"mediaKeyId","3796489-674a09ec975d07c68a56492af2235657","parentId",3796489,"title","Council holds part 1 public hearing on FY 2025-26 budget; vote set for June 20","audioSeconds",1945,"startMs",653000,"endMs",2598000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3796489-674a09ec975d07c68a56492af2235657&start=653&end=2598","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3796489-674a09ec975d07c68a56492af2235657/thumbnail_653000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6526455/South-Carolina/Council-holds-part-1-public-hearing-on-FY-2025-26-budget-vote-set-for-June-20","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526455-e29a791389f76dd1ea93068ed478dbca/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151506&Signature=UsKckGiPnBzBOfdOwGamSlU3XcCUtp2DA5HHDSPBSwkKhAuR457fwWcXEofzB8iOJPgQiXF8YZV5vto7KRbII9jHZ8pBW5qhlwZE38ERgM9ghITx4DO0~tLPVmF2eoDpn~9WJmsrcan1Ipw0LPRpdXExQCso07hdX8tC1bM4iQGBAMZCHvqvkSPrELd~JrgbCjapApkIvIeaufNZyvz-ELOqPXO1Vpr2UPetsL7gK7QvbjENGBWGh9JTurju5L-yc6JyLqrAoEyql94MM-coNgHFFEnox3o9hQvT9p-ugt7qBH-oM9Yl7BFl3ELKGOtUCa1TS6RIGqxAbmPLZOmsHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Easley","date","2025-06-10T10:22:34Z","article","The City of Easley held the first of two public hearings on June 9 for Ordinance 2025-06, the proposed operating budget for the fiscal period July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026. No vote was taken at the work session; the council scheduled the final public hearing and vote for June 20 at 8:30 a.m.

Councilmembers debated several budget highlights: a proposed millage increase discussed as roughly three mills (an estimated $393,000 in additional revenue), funding requests for public works and traffic projects and personnel increases across departments. Council members repeatedly framed the budget in terms of growth and service demand; as one councilmember said, \"You have to, in my opinion, raise taxes to keep up with inflation and so\" when arguing that modest tax increases are necessary to maintain services.

Senator Rex Rice has requested that the city contribute about $400,000 toward the Glenwood and Olive roundabout, and councilmembers discussed options for handling the paving fund that holds roughly that same amount. A staff member explained the mechanics: the money is in the paving fund and could be allocated or reserved; a staff recommendation was to create a time-limited segregation. As one staff advisor recommended: \"If you do a motion, give it an expiration date. So, make a motion to set this aside for 6 months. And then in 6 months, you would be, reviewing it to make sure you still wanna do that.\"

Council also discussed technology and systems changes. Staff reported a proposed technology enhancement line of about $750,000 to replace accounting and payroll systems and to consolidate mobile-device, cellular and tablet costs into a single line. As staff described the vendor change: \"We're changing the, BS and A. Does all our payroll say? He can explain it... We're wanting to move to Edmonds.\" Implementation-year costs were described as about $160,000 with recurring costs around $50,000.

Other budget questions raised on the record included alarm-fee collection costs (an estimated $6,000–$7,500 to contract for billing and collections), sanitation salary line changes, recreation department staffing increases (including a deputy director and other positions), and a 4% cost-of-living adjustment for full-time staff with targeted compensation adjustments for police and fire tied to a 2023 compensation study.

Councilmembers expressed differing views on the package: one said, \"I'm not comfortable with it,\" while another, who noted long-term service needs, said the increases were needed to maintain public safety and public works. Mayor Talbot said staff had urged support and that she would back the budget, stating: \"those people have asked me to stand for this budget and that's what I'm gonna do.\"

The council did not adopt the budget at the work session. The next public hearing and the council's vote on Ordinance 2025-06 are scheduled for June 20 at 8:30 a.m.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Easley City Council Meeting 06/09/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The City of Easley held a first public hearing on June 9 for Ordinance 2025-06, its FY 2025–26 budget; council debated staffing, a proposed millage increase and a possible $400,000 city pledge for a Glenwood–Olive roundabout and scheduled final action for June 20 at 8:30 a.m.","taxTitle","Easly City, Pickens, South Carolina","taxId",57021,"location","South Carolina","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6526458,"Council weighs amendment to six-month zoning moratorium; vote postponed to June 20",646,17000,663000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3796489-674a09ec975d07c68a56492af2235657&start=17&end=663","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3796489-674a09ec975d07c68a56492af2235657/thumbnail_17000.jpg","/articles/6526458/South-Carolina/Council-weighs-amendment-to-six-month-zoning-moratorium-vote-postponed-to-June-20","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526458-7ecd910e771c955425e327936de552af/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151506&Signature=RR3A7i1ZKUULpfbzu5iB0Fs-24fbj5cAdayHZnx5iqnoZ8pUXdfHmwRvZbZccpeBMdciJiezEvsBc27hhzKHrlAlJRsJOOGdafcXrSV~9UqBsxljemN9gXh7E3RH458lNRnfog6Ltn1p0XMyWNUfrsJ4TaVj1ENfHndKyxAHJ6lKjwlu3LTilzDT8bEOGGj1GmATmikT1sMbkzts4kWeku~L61iopeisXl5tXRgX8ebKOKrmWOQJD-IRKk-7siR~7tDtFBo3pWiATEFMLC6Hzy8b~gAN0Uph-TZqeJ8MFSn-sr-oXSMx~JdkZhIBTj3ea-GroQFLuTQG3zJq2xjL4A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The City of Easley Council on June 9 discussed Ordinance 2025-05, a proposed six-month extension of a moratorium that would temporarily suspend acceptance, review and action on applications for zoning approvals, development and construction permits.

Councilmember Tom raised a possible amendment aimed at small parcels, saying: \"allow properties under 1 acre to go ahead and be developed.\" The council explored whether the moratorium’s current definition of subdivision would prevent dividing parcels of one acre or less, and whether previously subdivided parcels that had been combined could be redivided.

A staff member present explained how the moratorium’s current language treats subdivisions: \"Except for lots that were subdivided at 1 time. Then even though they're subdivided at 1 time, then they were made 1 parcel, we can put them back to the way they were as long as they met the regulations.\" The same staff member described the practical effect: a three-acre parcel could be divided into a half-acre lot and a 2.5-acre lot, for example, and council considered whether the moratorium should exempt small divisions.

City legal counsel explained the related legal concept and its connection to the moratorium, stating: \"Pending ordinance doctrine is recognized by our state law that allows a city to reject a permit for rezoning or a building permit if it conflicts with a then, pending ordinance that's been that the council has resolved to undertake a redevelopment or rezoning of the a property.\" The attorney said the doctrine is typically invoked as a backup to a moratorium when the city is actively pursuing a rezoning or overlay district.

Council directed Mr. Hughes (staff) to draft language consistent with the requested carve-out. As explained on the record: \"I can write out the motion that needs to be made consistent with your request, miss Rose Shields. Yes. And we would be amending section 2 of the definition section of the original moratorium ordinance where I where we define what subdivision of land means.\" The attorney said the council would first vote on any amendment and then on the six-month extension as amended.

Because the amendment would require formal wording before a vote, the council agreed to postpone final action on the moratorium until the June 20 council meeting. A council member summarized the procedural result: the amendment will be drafted for review, and the council will vote on the amendment and then on the six-month moratorium extension on June 20.

Council members also asked staff to arrange a briefing from Easley Combined Utilities on wastewater and capacity planning before the moratorium is lifted so the council can better understand infrastructure constraints tied to development.

The discussion remained procedural: no formal amendment or ordinance vote was taken at the June 9 work session.","The City of Easley Council discussed Ordinance 2025-05, a proposed six-month extension of a moratorium on acceptance, review or action on zoning and development approvals, and considered an amendment to allow divisions of lots 1 acre or smaller. The council directed staff to draft the amendment and postponed the vote until the June 20 meeting.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6526450,"Council hears brief project updates: proposed alley lease, UDO draft and auditor contract review",148,3805000,3953000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3796489-674a09ec975d07c68a56492af2235657&start=3805&end=3953","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3796489-674a09ec975d07c68a56492af2235657/thumbnail_3805000.jpg","/articles/6526450/South-Carolina/Council-hears-brief-project-updates-proposed-alley-lease-UDO-draft-and-auditor-contract-review","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6526450-fadca6c08d21f912106bad7ad1330551/orig.mp4?Expires=1771151506&Signature=D9ZWMipGx8f0ws8qvlXtpKOUn0z~Y3F0Xe3rUhmrj9Eo2c7-~D1x-jOTiOfAcnruUTvrv2zPmc2KEMDEWwvx0ml9XdgWQ7IP0vzgTIclwKpJGBER3eMF1QowCN5LJ2y3LzXdBxgIm~4q0f9wDONw6hhfTWgXG7sNL5OdawXlyw6LvPL5CFJNxoL6S0uE0HtvpVLU0EygVXUpa0VKqaymlXxR0a3D0TNGL2cxLb90bAaIh6ti~CfwrXhY9vajJuQQC~mBbRE1Fj6mfVX45udnutNSz-9u7aOLkmOzvT42vJQdn6y6bzk2IIgt7OaWWW3B2yFVEzQZyZJ~acR9JCw34A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff provided three brief project updates at the June 9 work session: a proposed lease for an alley/bridge space in Old Barker Square for outdoor restaurant seating, delivery of the final draft of the Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) from MRB, and a review of the city's audit contract term.

On the alley/bridge lease: staff described the space as roughly 20 feet wide along the rear of the building near the gazebo and said the restaurateur envisions outdoor seating with garage doors and the potential for two or three restaurant tenants. As staff described the concept: \"They wanna put 2 they wanna put 2 restaurant. Well, at this time, they're thinking either 2 or 3 restaurant type facilities there. What? Outdoor seating? It'll be outdoor seating, and there will be garage doors on the side.\" Staff said police, fire and other departments would review access and safety before any final agreement.

On the UDO, staff reported: \"We have received today the final draft of the UDO, sent to us by MRB. I will put I'm putting that into a PDF document, and we'll send you that to you probably tomorrow morning.\" The draft was sent to the planning commission as a rough document for their review.

On the auditing contract, staff and council members noted the current firm (recorded as Greene/Green Finney in the packet) had been under contract for multiple years and that the originally agreed term was five years. Staff said they would check the ordinance and suggested that rotating auditors is recommended practice though council could reappoint the firm if satisfied.

No final approvals were requested at the work session; staff said they will return with proposed lease terms and any required safety and access reviews, will distribute the UDO draft to council, and will report back on the audit contract language for action next month.","Councilmembers received short updates on a proposed lease of a pedestrian bridge/alley for outdoor restaurant seating, the final draft of the city's unified development ordinance (UDO) from MRB, and the pending rotation/replacement of the city's auditing firm.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council holds part 1 public hearing on FY 2025-26 budget; vote set for June 20

Council weighs amendment to six-month zoning moratorium; vote postponed to June 20

Council hears brief project updates: proposed alley lease, UDO draft and auditor contract review