Keep Beaufort County Beautiful approves FY25 purchase requests, forwards FY26 budget requests including $90,000 Gardens Corner proposal

The Keep Beaufort County Beautiful committee approved a slate of fiscal year 2025 purchase requests on Feb. 13 and voted to forward a consolidated set of fiscal year 2026 budget requests to county finance, including a $90,000 proposal for the Gardens Corner intersection and $200,000 proposed for outside litter pickup.

The approvals covered outreach and event materials, small equipment and multiple beautification projects. Jessica Wright, District 2, described one outreach item the committee approved: “it's basically just a trailer that has fresh water, filtered water, to refill water bottles,” referring to a water-filtration trailer proposed for event use and sponsored through the Rotary of Hilton Head Island. The committee also discussed procurement timing and invoice deadlines tied to the county fiscal-year close on June 30.

Why it matters: the purchases and budget requests allocate the committee’s available FY25 dollars and establish what the group will ask the county for in FY26. Committee leaders repeatedly emphasized that underspending this year could limit future allocations; as one member put it, “If we spend every nickel, we will still underspend the $50,000,” urging the group to use its funds before the fiscal-year deadline.

In the meeting the committee approved dozens of small purchase requests for events and outreach — items that committee members said are meant to increase public engagement and reduce single-use plastics at county events — and agreed a consolidated FY26 budget package to send to county finance and administration. Committee members and staff said they will provide procurement links, invoices and purchase-order details to county purchasing so items can be procured and paid before June 30.

Votes at a glance (motions moved and seconded during the meeting; outcomes recorded by the committee): - Approve FY25 purchase requests for event/outreach and beautification items (aggregate approvals listed below) — approved. - $5,000: Gardens Corner plantings and scattered plantings — approved. - $7,500: countywide wildflower/bulb plantings (includes $2,500 set aside for labor/maintenance) — approved. - $5,500: additional planting project (native plants in targeted areas) — approved. - $2,250: sponsorship/payment toward a water-filtration “water buggy” trailer for events — approved. - $336.82: 500 kids activity books — approved. - $485.76: 1,000 coloring pages and 500 crayon packs — approved. - $413.76: 1,000 educational flyers — approved. - $463.18: reusable straws with pouches — approved. - $474.20 (approx.): laminated do’s-and-don’ts signs (1,000) — approved. - $337.88: 500 fridge magnets — approved. - $338.38: 1,000 card-stock do’s-and-don’ts handouts — approved. - $267.11: prize wheel for events — approved. - $1,205.86: team short- and long-sleeve shirts (minimum order) — approved. - $499.44: 1,600 waterproof water-bottle stickers — approved. - $389.30: folding table (6 ft) and 4 folding chairs — approved. - $1,167.14: branded stretch table cover (6 ft) — approved. - $1,054.20: 10-by-10 branded tent — approved. - $335.83: 500 trifold brochures — approved. - $1,239.40: one foldable wagon for events — approved. - $500: yard signs (campaign style) — approved. - $3,000: two additional billboards — approved. - $1,000: reusable water bottles (initial purchase to use as event prizes/promotional items) — approved.

The committee also voted to forward FY26 budget requests to county finance and administration for consideration. Items sent forward included a request to budget $10,000 for a new “Welcome to Beaufort County” sign on Highway 278; $5,000 (or $3,500 per internal spreadsheet — committee resolved to use $5,000) for wildflower plantings in FY26; a $90,000 request to rebuild and landscape the Gardens Corner intersection and related plantings (including a flagpole and lighting) to be included in the FY26 budget request; $26,000 for two decorative “rice trunk” signs at Highway 17 locations; $30,000 for outreach and education (marketing, the water buggy program and billboards); $27,500 to fund board members’ attendance at conferences; a $5,000 administrative contingency line; and a $200,000 request for outside litter-pickup services. Committee members indicated these items will be consolidated and delivered to county finance staff (Valerie and Pete were named as recipients) after the committee’s vote.

Committee members and staff repeatedly stressed process items: purchases above $5,000 will require county procurement controls, the committee must provide vendor links and invoices for staff to issue purchase orders, and the county’s internal deadline to have procurements in place is mid-June to ensure payment prior to fiscal close on June 30. Staff and members agreed to finalize purchase-order details and provide procurement links before leaving the meeting so that the county could complete purchasing in time.

The committee closed with public-comment remarks and logistical discussion about vacancies on the board and a planned board-member orientation session for new members. The group set June 12 as a future meeting date and adjourned.