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Hartsville proposes 3.5% COLA, returns permitting in-house and plans to assume recreation operations
Summary
City staff presented a balanced budget proposal that includes a recommended 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment, a return to in-house permitting/building-official services and a planned July 1 takeover of city recreation operations previously run with the county.
City staff presented a proposed balanced budget that includes personnel and operating highlights the council will consider in first-read proceedings.
The staff recommendation includes a 3.5% cost-of-living adjustment for city employees. Presenters said that, in the same package, the city expects reduced retirement contribution obligations (described in remarks as relief from previously higher state-mandated rates) and an insurance cost increase of about 4.5% from the carrier, driven in part by recent catastrophic events affecting pool costs.
On permitting, staff announced the city will bring permitting and a building official back in-house under the director of business and professional services, Brandon Bowie. The presentation compared prior contractor costs (one contractor was described in remarks as about $60,000 per year) to an in-house total compensation estimate staff described in the budget discussion as in the approximately $120,000 range for a fully loaded building-official position; staff said increased permit activity and housing starts justified the shift.
Staff also told council the city will assume operation of recreation services from the county, with the transition target date of July 1. Officials said a foundation donation and registration fee revenue would keep the net impact modest this year (staff cited an $18,000 net impact figure for the first year), and emphasized county residents would still be able to participate; the city has submitted an agreement to the county seeking subsidy parity but has not yet received the county’s response.
The budget review included capital requests across departments: police and public-safety vehicle leases, fire station repairs and vehicles, streets and grounds equipment, museum plumbing repairs and utilities capital for water/wastewater lift stations and cemetery tank roof work. Staff cited approximately $560,000 in utility capital needs and roughly $95,000 on sanitation capital equipment in the portion of remarks on enterprise requests.
Next steps: staff will continue departmental-level budget briefings and return the ordinance to council for formal readings and action according to the council’s calendar.
