Florence City Council adopts 2025–26 budget, approves zoning and code changes; hospitality bond set for executive review

The Florence City Council at its June meeting adopted the city's fiscal year 2025'26 budget and approved multiple ordinances and resolutions, while scheduling further discussion in executive session on a proposed hospitality-fee revenue bond.

The council voted to adopt the fiscal year 2025'26 budget (bill 2025-17) by voice vote after a second reading. Council members then approved a second-reading amendment to the current fiscal year budget (bill 2025-18); an amendment to the Unified Development Ordinance addressing cemetery preservation (bill 2025-19); a rezoning of 1203 Sopkin Avenue from CA to NC-16-1 (bill 2025-20); and an annexation and zoning ordinance for a 1.467-acre lot on Tuscano Drive (bill 2025-21). All of those measures passed on second reading by voice vote.

On first reading, the council approved an amendment to the city's business license ordinance (bill 2025-23) that would formalize the city manager's policy not to request state or federal income tax returns as part of initial business license registration or annual renewal, consistent with Act 176. The council also introduced a series ordinance authorizing the terms and sale of up to $15.1 million in hospitality-fee revenue bonds (bill…