Surf City council approves $664,216 transfer to finish multiuse path segment

The Surf City Town Council approved a budget ordinance amendment to transfer $664,216 from the town's accommodations tax fund (Fund 21) to the multiuse path perpetual fund (Fund 55) to complete multiuse path segment 7.

Kyle Brewer, the town manager, told the council the money will pay for the final portion of the multiuse path that will be finished after contractors complete a subaqueous waterline under the Intracoastal Waterway and replace the waterline along North Shore Drive. "So at a price of $664,216, which is about half of what the original estimate was, we're asking to move those funds from Fund 21 accommodations tax over to our multiuse path perpetual Fund 55," Brewer said.

A council member praised the financing approach as fiscally creative, saying the town saved money by coordinating the path construction with the utility project. "In effect, we've saved the town $1,200,000 out of our taxes by piggybacking the multiuse path segment 7 with the waterline project," the member said. That savings figure was presented to the council during discussion; the council did not request a roll-call verification during the motion.

A motion to approve the ordinance amendment was made and seconded and the measure passed by voice vote. The minutes record the outcome as "Motion carries;" no roll-call vote tally was recorded in the transcript.

The transfer uses accommodations-tax revenue (money generated by short-term rentals) rather than general-fund dollars. Council members and staff said the decision aligns with prior discussion at a recent work session and completes the funding steps needed for the multiuse path segment.

Next steps noted in the meeting include coordinating final grading and construction with the utility contractor; staff said they will return with implementation details if required.