Batesburg-Leesville work session previews balanced FY2025-26 budget; AMI, water projects and park restrooms highlighted

Town Manager Jay Hendris on May 29 presented the Batesburg-Leesville proposed fiscal year 2025-26 budget at a council work session, describing it as balanced and without a proposed millage increase.

Hendris told council the budget includes a 3% cost-of-living increase for town employees, completion of a compensation and classification study, and continued pursuit of grant-funded projects, including the Safe Streets for All award and a recently awarded climate-prevention grant. He said the town's water-project contract is scheduled to be complete by Dec. 31, 2025, after which the town will begin decommissioning its water plant and related pump stations.

"It is contractually supposed to be completed by December 31st, anticipated being done sooner," Hendris said, noting the town may set a conservative completion target while aiming for earlier completion.

Hendris outlined enterprise-fund activity including ongoing SRF and skip funding for the water project, roughly $333,000 in water sales this year to a neighboring county utility, and planned CDBG-backed sewer and water-line upgrades on South Oak, Maple and North Peach Tree streets. A $1 million RIA grant for a wastewater clarifier project remains in the budget but Hendris said bids came in significantly higher than estimates and the project is on hold pending coordination with the North Fork Commerce Park engineering.

Council discussed an advanced meter infrastructure (AMI) rollout. Hendris proposed a $2,500 feasibility study to prepare grant applications and site assessment; he said meters purchased over the last five years are compatible and that a phased geographic rollout (for example, starting with out-of-town Harbor Watch customers) would cut truck mileage and operational costs.

"If we pull the trigger on this year, within 9 to 12 months we could have it implemented," Hendris said in describing vendor timelines and anticipated operational savings. He also said that, if AMI proceeds, the town could remove the meter-reading truck from next year's lease-purchase requests.

The manager reviewed capital and lease-purchase options across departments: a jetting trailer and utility equipment (estimated $200,000), replacement of several police cruisers (about $360,000 total), vehicles for town hall and public works, a compact wheel loader and other heavy equipment. Hendris discussed spreading purchases over multiple years and consulting bond counsel for financing options.

Hendris also proposed using approximately $700,000 in hospitality-tax fund balance to complete two park-restroom projects; work was described as underway with foundations expected in June. He said the town plans to use a $100,000 Hannes Auditorium line item as grant-match funding for electrical and mechanical improvements once an assessment is finalized.

Police staffing and equipment needs were discussed; the police chief recorded that the department is fully staffed at present. Councilmembers raised transparency issues for out-of-town travel and a desire for written post-trip reports when members attend conferences on town funds.

Hendris said the budget packet would be posted to council members ahead of the June 9 meeting and that the council would consider the budget at first reading on that date. No formal budget vote was taken at the May 29 work session.

The council adjourned after general discussion; Hendris indicated staff will finalize materials for the June 9 council packet and follow up on items flagged during the session.