Mount Pleasant holds public hearings on proposed FY 2025–26 budgets for city, library, RDA and building authority

Mount Pleasant officials conducted a series of public hearings to receive comment on amended fiscal-year budgets and proposed FY2025–26 budgets for the Community Development and Renewal Agency (RDA), the Mount Pleasant Library, the Local Building Authority and the city as a whole. Officials closed each hearing after taking public comment and discussion but recorded no formal votes.

City finance staff and councilmembers said the RDA and several other funds face timing and revenue uncertainties that create gaps between what was budgeted and what is projected to come in. Staff reported $216,000 tied to a park project drawn from a $288,000 grant and said accounts receivable on an accrual basis stood at roughly $2,500,000. A city official identified that $216,000 as part of grant draws already requested from contractors; the city said additional reimbursements remain pending.

Library and general-fund issues drew focused questions. Staff said the library budget shows a shortfall that could trigger a truth-in-taxation hearing if the council does not reduce spending; the meeting record lists August 26 as the truth-in-taxation date referenced during discussion. City staff and councilmembers discussed options including cutting line items or amending the budget later when expected revenues materialize.

Officials also discussed the Local Building Authority’s budget and how carryforward funds the city has already received should appear in the FY2026 presentation. Councilmembers asked staff to show carryover balances in the relevant fund rather than omitting amounts that change daily; staff noted the balance fluctuates and would require a cutoff date for reporting but agreed to better display amounts received to date.

Councilmembers and staff touched on several other budget items: modest increases budgeted for wages across departments, a $60,000 grant application for a new roof at the recreation center, projected changes in franchise and sales tax revenue tied to new commercial development (including mention of a Dollar General and O’Reilly’s), and the allocation of pay increases for public-works staff to enterprise funds such as sewer and water. City staff noted the power department’s next-year budget figure differs from prior years’ estimates and that some departmental expenses (for example, a trench box and work mats purchased this year) affected operating expense projections.

Mayor (name not specified) warned the public not to rely on an unverified social-media report on an ongoing legal matter, saying, “Don’t believe the Facebook post. That’s all I’m gonna say — don’t believe the Facebook post. Because nothing has been settled with anything else. It’s still in litigation.”

The meeting record indicates city staff posted links to budget documents on the city website for public review; councilmembers supported continued transparency and asked staff to study how other cities present full budgets online.

No motions or votes were recorded during the hearings; councilmembers closed each hearing after discussion and moved on to the next agenda item. Staff said they would provide updated monthly fund balances and expects to amend budgets later if additional grant revenue or other receipts are confirmed.

The hearings covered: the Mount Pleasant Community Development and Renewal Agency amended budgets and FY2025–26 proposal; the Mount Pleasant Library amended budget and FY2025–26 proposal; the Mount Pleasant Local Building Authority FY2025–26 proposal; the city’s FY2025–26 proposed budget; and a public hearing on a proposed cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for executive officers for FY2025–26.