Brookfield special tax district seeks millage increase to replenish reserves; committee approves request

The Greenville County Committee on Finance approved a request from the Brookfield and Pelham Creek Special Tax District to raise its millage rate from 9.1 to 12.5 mils to replenish reserves and cover deferred maintenance, the district’s chair said at the committee’s meeting.

Connie Marlene Walker, chair and treasurer of the Brookfield and Pelham Creek Special Tax District, told the committee that the district has seen expenses outpace assessed value changes and that reserves have been drawn down by safety-related landscaping work and other maintenance. “All we're trying to do is equalize for the last assessment so that we can try to keep up with expenses,” Walker said.

The increase, Walker said, would raise the special district’s revenue enough to set aside roughly $9,000–$10,000 above base expenses to build a reserve and to begin saving toward larger repairs such as repaving a parking lot estimated at $50,000–$60,000. Walker said the average assessed value in the district is about $284,000; under those figures the current 9.1-mil rate produced roughly $103 per year for the average homeowner and a 12.5-mil rate would be about $142, an increase of about $39 per year.

Why it matters: the district has no authority to borrow, Walker said, so it must accumulate reserves to pay for unanticipated and capital expenses. She told committee members the district’s reserve balance has fallen toward zero after spending approximately $8,000 on vegetation work over two years to restore safe sightlines at a Pelham Creek entrance.

Committee members asked about outreach and turnout. Walker said the district mailed roughly 245 letters to property owners and households and reported three residents attended a special-call meeting; she said the district received about six direct contacts and “no pushback” so far. Frank (last name not provided), a resident who attended meetings and helped distribute notices, told the committee callers and neighbors had not objected at this stage.

The committee voted by voice to approve the millage request; the transcript records a voice vote with the chair announcing, “The ayes have it.” The meeting record does not include a roll-call tally.

Votes at a glance

- Duke Energy 2025 Helping Emergency Response Organizations grant (Sheriff’s Office) — $19,995 to replace dive-team equipment (dry suits, full-face mask, backplate wings, weight pockets). Approved by voice vote.

- Brookfield and Pelham Creek Special Tax District millage increase — increase from 9.1 mils to 12.5 mils to rebuild reserves and cover deferred maintenance. Approved by voice vote.

- Community project applications (approved by voice vote): River Falls Fire District equipment replacement — $5,000 to replace equipment damaged in recent wildfires; Greenville County Parks & Rec (soccer fields) — $20,000 to offset field rental costs for Furman United Soccer Club ($10,000 from Councilor Shaw, $10,000 from Councilor Farmer); Blue Star Monument Garden at Herclads Park — $4,456 for flagpole, bench, irrigation, and edging; Butler Springs Park (Wade Hampton Little League) — unspecified improvements to install safety netting and improve the concessions area.

What the district said it will do next: Walker said the district plans to accumulate reserves through the higher millage and continue quarterly meetings; she also said the district would develop an email list to improve outreach. Committee members said they were inclined to approve given the small number of residents who attended and the district’s stated safety and maintenance needs.

The committee conducted the approvals by voice vote; the transcript does not include named, individual vote tallies for the listed items.