City of Greenville budget

[gman430]

https://www.greenvillesc.gov/DocumentCenter/View/23162/FY24-Budget-Workshop-Presentation---April-17-2023-PDF?mibextid=Zxz2cZ

The proposed budget includes significant investments in capital improvements total $56 million, including: 

• Affordable Housing – $3.75 million (up from $2.5 million pending legislative action) 
• Wastewater improvements (sewer capacity) – $7 million 
• Roads, bridges and traffic calming - $12 million 
• Sidewalks – $7 million  
• Nicholtown Community Center upgrades: $1.8 million 
• Park improvements including $2 million for a new inclusive playground at Cleveland Park and $1.4 million for court rehabilitation and pickleball at Gower Park.  
• Greenways, trails, bike, and pedestrian safety enhancements – $2.7 million 
• New parking garages - $5 million 

 Additional Commitments were made to support council priorities:

Public Safety: 10 additional officers (including vehicles and equipment) for Greenville Police Department and 5 additional positions for Greenville City Fire Department with new Public Safety headquarters opening during FY24.  

Neighborhoods: Neighborhood Infrastructure Bond (NIB) $19 million for paving, traffic calming, sidewalks, pedestrian safety. 

Recreation: Cleveland Park playground enhancement, design and feasibility for pump track and skate park, increased funding for Art in Public Places, and support for new festivals (Greenville Jazz Fest, Juneteenth Celebration) 

Open Space: Renewed funding for land purchases to preserve open space with opportunity to accelerate with a green space bond. 

Economic Development: Implementation of Strategic Plan with focus on additional staff to accelerate talent development; innovation & entrepreneurship; diversity, livability and placemaking. Additional focus on filling commercial office space  

Mobility: Investing in technology to improve traffic management, increased investment in public transit to GTA ($1.7 million), Swamp Rabbit Trail connections for neighborhoods. 

[NewlyUpstate]

Eager to see what the skating park plans end up looking like

[ingvegas]

Hope there is room in the budget for some serious sidewalk power-washing downtown. Is it me, or has the increased traffic (and homelessness) significantly worsened the state of the sidewalks (and sometimes smell) downtown?  I am thankful the city is trying to handle the Rat Kingdom that moved into the bushes just outside the Jimmy John's on Washington. 

Edited April 21, 2023 by ingvegas

[gman430]

Major Roadways 

• $3.5 million for the downtown Cultural Corridor, to connect Main Street and Heritage Green, via a redesign of the Academy Street corridor 
• $500,000 for the creation of the downtown Academy Street bypass to divert vehicles away from College Street and improve traffic flow 
• $500,00 to improve safety and enhance development along Wade Hampton Boulevard 
• $250,000 for improvements to the Church Street bridge – including deck repair, sidewalks and barriers and a new stair access to McBee Avenue 

Mobility 

• $1.5 million to complete work on Laurens and Haywood Road Pedestrian Bridges 
• $488,000 to complete the Cleveland Park Connector, via trail switchbacks along steep terrain, to the Swamp Rabbit Trail 
• $285,000 for the Laurens Road Neighborhood Connections to the Green Line of the Prisma Health Swamp Rabbit Trail 
• $2 million for a Swamp Rabbit Trail bridge crossing at Verdae Boulevard 

Neighborhoods 

• $8.6 million in new sidewalk construction throughout City neighborhoods 
• $1.8 million for renovation of the Nicholtown Community Center  
• $402,500 for Stone Lake Dam improvements to install an emergency spillway for storm events 
• $651,000 to remove invasive plants and restore the streambank in the wetlands area north of Unity Park, in the Southernside neighborhood 
• $674,000 to replace a culvert on Meyers Drive 

Recreation 

• $418,000 to create an interactive Giraffe Feeding Platform and $450,000 to create Africa Plaza, with accompanying tortoise and porcupine exhibit, at the Greenville Zoo 
• $2.7 million for court renovations at Gower and Cleveland Parks 
• Inclusive Playground and ADA Improvements at Cleveland Park 
• Pump Track and Skate Park Design and Feasibility Study 

Public Safety 

• $39.8 million for acquisition and renovation of the New Police Headquarters, Fire Administration and Municipal Court facility at Halton Road 
• Ten additional police officers 
• Fire Station improvements 
• Downtown security cameras  

Sewer and Utility Work 

• $3.5 million for powerline undergrounding along Augusta Street 
• $1 million for overhead powerline cleanup along Stone Avenue and Augusta Street 
• $5 million for South Downtown and $3.6 million for Rhett Street sewer upgrades 

 The first reading of the budget and public hearing is May 22. The adoption of the budget is scheduled for June 12. 

 

 

 

[GvilleSC]

Thanks for posting this. I generally like where the City is spending their funds and what they are prioritizing.

Can anyone shed light on what this is:

• $500,000 for the creation of the downtown Academy Street bypass to divert vehicles away from College Street and improve traffic flow 

[NewlyUpstate]

44 minutes ago, GvilleSC said:

Thanks for posting this. I generally like where the City is spending their funds and what they are prioritizing.

Can anyone shed light on what this is:

• $500,000 for the creation of the downtown Academy Street bypass to divert vehicles away from College Street and improve traffic flow 

It's part of the cultural corridor project

January 25, 2022 - Greenville, SC https://www.greenvillesc.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/9198?fileID=49128

Edited May 8, 2023 by NewlyUpstate

[NewlyUpstate]

More details from yesterday's council meeting

https://www.greenvillesc.gov/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Item/10444?fileID=60015

[gman430]

Budget was approved last night. 

[NewlyUpstate]

I missed it during the council meeting with all the zoning discussion - but the state finished passing the bill allowing local communities to allocate up to 15% of gross receipts from the accommodations tax towards Workforce/Affordable housing.  As part of the budget, Greenville council decided to use our max limit (~$900k) for additional affordable housing funding.

Greenville is the first city to make this move, although others are also in discussion (Charleston, Myrtle Beach, Beaufort).  Good to see us lead with implementing this new rule.  Even with adding this additional expense, A-Tax is still running almost a $1mm in budget surplus that could be used for other projects that come up.

The law sunsets in 2030 to allow the state legislature an opportunity to review the effectiveness. 

Edited May 25, 2023 by NewlyUpstate

[gman430]

Greenville County two year budget:

-Funding for 30 new employees for the Greenville County Sheriff’s Office over two years and an additional 14 employees in other departments.

-Increases county funding for affordable housing to $5 million and sets aside $9.5 million for preservation of natural resources. Since 2018, the county has spent $1 million per year on affordable housing so a large increase there. 

-Would raise the county’s portion of funding for Greenville Transit Authority, or Greenlink, from $2.5 million per year to $3 million this coming year and $3.5 million in the second budget year.

-$2.5 million to act as a county match to state funding for construction of a new dam at Conestee Nature Preserve, where a 130-year-old dam that holds in place toxic sludge from Greenville’s industrial past has needed to be replaced for years.

-Cuts $1 million from road paving per year which isn’t sitting well with a few of the county council members.  

Edited May 25, 2023 by gman430

[GVLer]

90% of the budget should be road paving 

[gman]

Say no to a 23% tax increase. “Proposed Greenville County budget includes first tax increase in 30 years.” https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/politics/proposed-greenville-county-budget-includes-first-tax-increase-in-30-years/article_12670e2c-fa71-11ed-99c0-1feb6f5f9af2.html/?tpcc=gvlnl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Greenville Headlines 052523&utm_content=Greenville Headlines 052523+CID_6d0566a2bf9f60f38e52966c17cfa34b&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Proposed Greenville County budget includes first tax increase in 30 years#newsletter-popup

[johnpro318]

Greenville manages their money well. I think a tax increase is appropriate to meet the growing demands of the constituents. 

[gman430]

20 minutes ago, gman said:

Say no to a 23% tax increase. “Proposed Greenville County budget includes first tax increase in 30 years.” https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/politics/proposed-greenville-county-budget-includes-first-tax-increase-in-30-years/article_12670e2c-fa71-11ed-99c0-1feb6f5f9af2.html/?tpcc=gvlnl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Greenville Headlines 052523&utm_content=Greenville Headlines 052523+CID_6d0566a2bf9f60f38e52966c17cfa34b&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Proposed Greenville County budget includes first tax increase in 30 years#newsletter-popup

This coming from the person who is okay with the county spending tens of millions of tax payer dollars on a new soccer stadium.  

Edited May 25, 2023 by gman430

[GvilleSC]

30 minutes ago, gman said:

Say no to a 23% tax increase. “Proposed Greenville County budget includes first tax increase in 30 years.” https://www.postandcourier.com/greenville/politics/proposed-greenville-county-budget-includes-first-tax-increase-in-30-years/article_12670e2c-fa71-11ed-99c0-1feb6f5f9af2.html/?tpcc=gvlnl&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Greenville Headlines 052523&utm_content=Greenville Headlines 052523+CID_6d0566a2bf9f60f38e52966c17cfa34b&utm_source=CampaignMonitor&utm_term=Proposed Greenville County budget includes first tax increase in 30 years#newsletter-popup

30 years is a long time to go without raising the tax rate. There are things to pay for that are only costing more and more. 

[NewlyUpstate]

How does our county tax compare to others in SC? Anyone have a quick reference?

[vicupstate]

 

Tzouvelekas suggested selling the county law enforcement building at the gateway to downtown and using those funds to cover additional costs.

 

While selling that land might be a good idea at some point, the cost to replace it with a new building would surely exceed the proceeds from the sale. Jails are very expenses to build and I have to imagine a new facility would need to have more cells than the current one, given how long ago it was built. 

I expect the county will reduce that increase by the time the final reading is given, but an significant increase seems unavoidable.  This is the downside of never raising taxes, when the eventual day comes it is a big hike at once. 

With the consolidation into Metro Connects, the PSDs in the county need to REDUCE their millage now that they no longer have to support that service.  I'm looking at YOU, Parker PSD.   

[btoy]

A tax rate is not needed when the valuations of the property taxed continues to go up.

With regards to selling the jail, you would not just get proceeds for the sale but tax revenue on the future development.  That is a site that is currently not being taxed.

[gman430]

The good news about a tax hike in Greenville County is it gives an even bigger excuse as to why being annexed into the city is a positive thing. 

Edited May 25, 2023 by gman430

[gman]

2 hours ago, gman430 said:

This coming from the person who is okay with the county spending tens of millions of tax payer dollars on a new soccer stadium.  

Yes. That is a no-brainer Spend what we have wisely. The soccer stadium will bring in much more revenue that the taxpayers will put into it. 

20 minutes ago, btoy said:

A tax rate is not needed when the valuations of the property taxed continues to go up.

With regards to selling the jail, you would not just get proceeds for the sale but tax revenue on the future development.  That is a site that is currently not being taxed.

I agree. As the appraisers would say, what is the highest and beat use for that property? A building to house criminals in a prime location of downtown is certainly not the highest and best use. Put something there there will bring in revenue from tax dollars. Another no-brainer. 

Edited May 25, 2023 by gman

[NewlyUpstate]

How about a soccer stadium, a couple hotels and a handful of bars and restaurants?

[vicupstate]

3 hours ago, btoy said:

A tax rate is not needed when the valuations of the property taxed continues to go up.

With regards to selling the jail, you would not just get proceeds for the sale but tax revenue on the future development.  That is a site that is currently not being taxed.

You make a very valid point that new tax revenue would result, but it would take a few years for that to amount to a truly significant amount.  Plus the political ramifications of the new jail location would be pretty significant wherever it ended up going.   

The biggest issue would  be that the new jail would have to be completely built and paid for  before any revenue from the sale of the old jail would be realized. A new jail/law enforcement center would probably be $100 mm or maybe even twice that. 

That brings up another question though. With the  sale of County Square, wouldn't that money be available to fund the county's budget??  

3 hours ago, gman430 said:

The good news about a tax hike in Greenville County is it gives an even bigger excuse as to why being annexed into the city is a positive thing. 

When annexing into a city the PSD tax mileage is replaced, but the  general county tax mileage is not.  Therefore, it wouldn't affect the incentive to annex one way or the other.  

[gman430]

The county lacks the votes for the tax increase to pass. Five county council members are slated to vote no. They can only have a max amount of four no votes for the tax increase to pass. 

[gman430]

On 5/25/2023 at 7:33 PM, vicupstate said:

You make a very valid point that new tax revenue would result, but it would take a few years for that to amount to a truly significant amount.  Plus the political ramifications of the new jail location would be pretty significant wherever it ended up going.   

The biggest issue would  be that the new jail would have to be completely built and paid for  before any revenue from the sale of the old jail would be realized. A new jail/law enforcement center would probably be $100 mm or maybe even twice that. 

That brings up another question though. With the  sale of County Square, wouldn't that money be available to fund the county's budget??  

When annexing into a city the PSD tax mileage is replaced, but the  general county tax mileage is not.  Therefore, it wouldn't affect the incentive to annex one way or the other.  

The county will be bringing in $25 million per year with the county square development but the first $65 million of it will be going to pay for their new office building and parking garage. After that, the money can and will be used towards the general budget. 

[GVLer]

Roads. Roads. Roads. Our road infrastructure is a $&@# show.