City Council Adopts FY 2024-25 Budget

June 25, 2024, Newberry – The Newberry City Council unanimously passed second reading Tuesday to adopt the budget and levy taxes for Fiscal Year 2024-25. The fiscal year’s total operating budget for all activity in the City of Newberry will amount to $58,842,244. This milestone sees the introduction of a millage tax increase of 1.7 mills and a two-dollar garbage fee adjustment. Council members anticipate the budget’s impact to be significant. “This budget does a lot of things and will have a big impact,” said Mayor Foster Senn. The motion to pass second reading was made by Councilperson Lemont Glasgow and seconded by Councilperson Edwin Wicker. The budget will take effect from July 1, 2024.

Changes to Water, Sewer, and Electrical Rates

The session also saw several second readings approved to amend Article II of Chapter 9 for better specification of rates for electrical, water, and sewer services. The ordinances modify five-year rate schedules adopted previously by the City Council for these services. Explicitly, these changes mean a small increase of 2% in rates. The average customer would thus be faced with a monthly increase of approximately $5-6 across water, sewer, and electrical services. The council passed another reading for the repeal of section 4-3 of Article 1, Chapter 4 pertaining to residential development incentives.

Automotive Repair and Maintenance Ordinance Amendments

More new business the council addressed involved the first reading of an ordinance set to amend Articles V and VI of the zoning ordinance to better address the placement of automotive repair and maintenance facilities. These changes permit such businesses via a conditional use in the general commercial zoning district, on top of the authorization already in place as a conditional use in the limited industrial district and a permitted use in the basic industrial district.

Upcoming Plans for Insurance Benefits Program

Besides endorsing amendments, the first reading of another ordinance aimed at ensuring compliance with the South Carolina public employee benefit authority for participation in the state insurance benefits program relating to municipal councilmember coverage was also approved. This ordinance continues the inclusion of council members in the state health insurance plan on similar terms and conditions as the regular employees of the City of Newberry.

Overall, the session was constructive and progressive, setting the groundwork for the City’s successful operation in the upcoming fiscal year and laying down revised guidelines for essential services.