►
Description
City of Charleston City Council Budget Workshop 11/18/2020
A
E
E
G
G
I
B
B
B
I
think
36
degrees
is
our
kind
of
touch
point
for
for
opening
up.
So
I
don't
see
that
on
the
forecast
just
yet,
but
it
probably
won't
be
too
long
and
and
we'll
be
opening
up.
For
the
first
time
our
emergency
management
staff
and
christopher
jordan.
Our
homeless
coordinator
have
worked
very
hard
to
put
put
the
effort
together.
B
It
will
rely
a
bit
on
city
staff,
but
also
on
volunteerism.
We've
contacted
another
number
of
churches
who
who
have
volunteered
to
offer
volunteers
to
us
kind
of
a
week
at
a
time,
depending
on
how
the
weather
goes,
of
course,
so
I
can
get
you
more
on
that
we
we're
we're,
gearing
up
for
for
being
able
to
serve
those
who,
who
don't
have
a
warm
place
to
stay
when
it
gets
really
cold.
I
do
see
councilmember
mitchell
joined
us.
Yes,
I'm
here.
I
B
So
I
I'd
suggest
we
go
ahead
and
get
started,
they're
they're
both
on
I
hear
somebody
else
coming
in,
but
they're
both
on
the
ad
hoc
committee.
So
frankly,
they've
they've
heard
most
of
this
already
and
if
I
could
call
us
to
order,
I
don't
think
we
need
to
call
a
roll
jennifer's
got
good
track
of
who's
here.
B
Thank
you.
May
god
guide
us
in
our
deliberations,
so
most
of
this
show,
as
you
would
expect,
is
put
together
by
amy
wharton,
our
our
highly
capable
director
of
budget
and
finance
she's
really
done
a
terrific
job.
Here
today
I
I've
seen
a
preview
telling
the
history
of
how
we
got
where
we
are
and
decisions
that
need
to
be
made
by
council.
B
In
addition,
we
we've
now
gone
through
this
year
with
a
hiring
freeze
in
place
and
as
we've,
let
them
all
know.
We
need
to
continue
that
for
the
coming
year
as
well.
So,
honestly,
a
lot
of
positions
and
help
that
some
of
our
departments
have
been
looking
forward
to
getting
after
after
a
few
years
without
they
they'll
have
to
continue
on
so
they're
definitely
been
a
great
cooperative
effort
among
our
staff
to
make
to
make
ends
meet
on
this
budget
with
sacrifices.
B
By
by
all,
I
will
say,
I've
been
a
little
optimistic,
maybe
overly
so
over
the
last
few
months
that
the
congress
and
the
administration,
the
trump
administration
was
was
going
to
so
to
speak,
come
to
our
rescue
on
the
income
side.
As
you
all
know,
the
early
cares
act
provided
relief
to
the
local
governments,
but
only
if
you
had
500
000
or
more
in
your
jurisdiction.
B
So
in
south
carolina
greenville
county
was
the
only
jurisdiction
to
qualify
and
get
some
of
those
direct
carers
fund
funding.
So
the
the
some
good
intentions
on
the
part
of
congress,
the
house
passed
a
bill.
I
guess
it
was
during
the
summer
and
unfortunately,
given
the
political
climate,
you
know
a
compromise
was
never
reached
between
them
and
the
senate,
even
with
president
trump
saying
that
he
wanted
to
have
a
bill
come
forward
before
the
election.
B
Now
we
have
a
new
president-elect,
joe
biden,
who
earlier
this
week
emphasized
the
need
to
provide
more
help
to
state
and
local
governments
facing
a
budget
crunch
as
a
result
of
the
pandemic,
and
he
was
actually
quoted
on
monday
as
saying
you're
going
to
see
hundreds
of
thousands
of
police
officers,
firefighters,
first
responders
mental
health
clinics,
others
you're
going
to
see
them
going
out
of
business.
If,
if
a
coveted
relief
package
like
heroes
does
not
pass
so
he
is
now
on
board
as
well
and
asking
the
congress
during.
B
B
So
we
do
have
some
some
time.
Here's
some
cushion
again
I'm
going
to
be
optimistic
with
with
with
things
as
they
are
now
that
we
will
see
some
relief
from
the
federal
government
and
be
able
to
make
some
adjustments
to
our
income
side
of
the
the
budget
and,
like
we
did
this
year,
have
a
a
budget
amendment
for
2021
that
could
take
take
these
things
into
account,
but
we
got
to
deal
with
what
we
got
right
now.
B
What
we
know
about
is
on
the
table
and
that's
what
amy's
going
to
tell
us
about
and,
and
we
got
to
make
it
work-
we've
got
to
have
a
balanced
budget,
regardless
of
what
might
happen
next
year,
we'll
just
have
to
cross
that
bridge
when
we
get
there,
if
something
good
happens,
but
I
hope
it
will
so
anyway.
With
that
backdrop,
I
will
now
ask
amy
to
give
you
her
fine
presentation,
amy.
H
H
H
They
came
back
with
1.78
million
dollars
in
cuts.
We
went
through
and
made
an
additional
4.4
million
dollars
in
cuts,
and
then
there
were
some
high
priority
requests
that
we
did
add
back
into
the
budget
in
the
amount
of
three
million
dollars.
Some
of
it
was,
I
t
related
that
we
needed
to
do.
Another
example
would
be
the
body
worn
cameras
for
the
police
department.
H
H
When
we
first
looked
at
it,
we
were
projecting
about
a
9
million
decrease
in
revenues
for
2021,
but
as
we
were
getting
more
information
in
october
and
and
we
had
our
code
enforcement
officers
out
there
doing
some
assessments
of
the
businesses,
we
felt
a
little
bit
more
comfortable,
adding
a
couple
more
million
to
that.
So,
overall
it's
a
seven
million
dollar
increa
or
decrease
from
2020.,
and
at
that
point
we
still
had
a
deficit
of
14.6
million
dollars.
H
We
considered
a
furlough
pay
reduction
for
our
employees.
It
would
have
resulted
in
a
reduction
in
expenditures
of
around
2.1
million.
There's
a
lot
of
concern
with
this.
Reducing
pay
might
inspire
more
employees
to
leave
city
employment
because
there
are
still
jobs
out
there,
unlike
in
the
recession
before
there's
still
jobs
out
there,
that
people
could
could
go
to
and
with
the
hiring
freeze
extending
into
2021.
H
H
So
this
budget
includes
a
millage
increase
of
three
mills,
which
equates
to
about
4.9
million
dollars.
It
also
includes
a
city
keeping
50
percent
of
the
local
option:
sales
tax
windows,
full
revenue
fund,
which
equates
to
about
4.1
million
dollars.
This
allowed
us
to
not
have
to
furlough
or
implement
pay
reductions
for
employees.
H
H
And
then
our
proposed
budgets,
the
enterprise
fund,
the
total
projected
revenue
is
about
30.
34.4
million
dollars
projected
expenses
at
30.1,
with
a
surplus
of
almost
4.3
million
dollars
and
just
as
an
additional
note,
the
surplus
that
we
had
in
in
2020
was
budgeted
at
11
million
dollars
and
that's
we
use
that
to
balance
our
budget
every
year.
So
you
can
see
how
how
much
of
a
difference
there
is
from
20
to
20
would.
H
H
Combined
general
fund
and
enterprise
fund
revenue
budget
is
232
million.
2020
approved
budget
was
230,
almost
238
million
dollars,
there's
a
net
increase
in
revenues
in
the
general
fund
of
2.7
million,
and
then
that
decrease
in
revenues
and
enterprise
funds
of
8.5
mostly
attributed
to
the
decrease
in
parking
parking
fund
revenues.
H
And
then,
just
looking
at
growth
on
major
revenue
growth
by
category
most
of
the
revenues
due
are
decreased
in
reverse,
due
to
the
covet
impact
increase
in
property.
Taxes
is
due
to
the
three
mill
increase
and
the
reduction
in
loss
revenue
fund
credit
given
and
also
growth
from
reassessment
in
2020..
H
H
A
minimal
net
decrease
in
overall
expenditures
of
532
000
there's
a
1.1
million
dollar
increase
in
expenditures
from
2020
to
2021
in
the
general
fund
and
those
are
most
mostly
attributed
to
the
increase
in
health
care
and
anticipated
retirement
increases.
We
had
a
1.7
million
decrease
in
expenditures
from
20
to
21
in
the
enterprise
fund.
H
And
just
looking
at
this,
you
can
see
personnel
fringe
benefits
and
operating
the
increase
of
1.1
million.
As
I
stated
on
the
previous
slide,
personnel
is
not
growing
due
to
no
cola
or
increases
to
minimum.
Wage
operating
has
basically
flatlined
for
2021
as
compared
to
2020
and
fringes
increase
because
of
healthcare
and
the
retirement
increases.
I
L
H
H
And
then
parking
surplus
versus
the
transfer
of
the
general
fund
in
2020,
like
I
said,
our
the
budget
of
transfer
was
11
million
dollars
in
2020.
We're
not
able
to
do
any
of
that.
Transfer
you'll
see
that
in
the
amended
budget
that
we
did
so
we
have
to
cover
that
in
other
areas
and
then
in
2021
it's
4.3
million.
L
H
A
H
A
H
A
B
A
B
A
L
L
How
do
we
I
mean
somehow
coming
out
of
this?
I
think
we
ought
to
commit
that
if
we
get
some
of
those
funds
is
to
go
to
go
back
to
lost,
lost
the
lost
side
of
revenue
that
we,
the
fifty
percent
of
laws,
that
we
didn't
give
back
that
if
we
did
get
stimulus
money,
we
can
return
the
lost
revenue
to
the
citizens.
L
B
E
B
E
B
B
M
G
M
G
M
K
Yeah,
I
I
just
wanted
to
talk
about
the
rollback
just
a
bit
because
I
think
you
know
in
our
ad
hoc
committee
meetings.
We
also
discuss
it
and
I
don't
have
a
problem
with
considering
anything,
but
I
just
want
as
we
do
that
as
we
normally
do.
We
consider
it
being
informed
of
what
our
projections
may
be
in
2022
and
we
right
now.
We
really
it's
it's
the
unknown.
K
A
K
B
B
You
know
tourism
and
the
general
economy
number
one
number
two
is
business
license
income
which,
as
amy
said,
we're
projecting
to
be
seven
million
dollars
short
of
what
we
would
have
normally
anticipated
for
next
year,
which
is
also
a
function
of
the
the
general
economic
environment
and
and
third
would
be
both
accommodations
and
hospitality
taxes.
So
so
those
are
the
three
pots
of
money
that
all
took
big
hits
this
year
in
2020
and
we're
projecting
hits
for
2021..
B
I
certainly
would
feel
that
by
the
third
quarter
of
next
year
we
would
have
a
reasonable
feel
for
how
those
variable
income
sources
would
be,
and
obviously,
if
our
economy
and
tourism
is
starting
to
recover
all
those
funds,
will
those
funding
sources
will
recover
as
well
so
you're
right,
we'll
look
at
those
things
when
we
get
there
before.
We
get
there,
I
mean.
L
Well,
I
don't
have
a
question,
mr
miller.
I
do
have
a
observation
share.
As
you
know,
and
you
know,
council
members
have
been
on
a
little
bit
longer
in
the
past
when
we
have
had
millage
increases
and
continued
to
give
all
of
the
lost
money
back
to
the
taxpayers,
to
reduce
taxes,
property
taxes,
usually
in
about
maybe
two
years
or
so
believe
it
or
not.
That
increase
is
usually
superseded
by
loss
revenue
back
to
the
homeowner.
L
So
that's
been
the
trend.
I
would
say
that's
what
that
increase
is
normally
given
back
a
couple
of
years
later,
because
lost
revenue
during
normal
times
has
been
growing
from
one
year
to
the
next.
So
that's
why
it's
worked
out
so
well.
So,
hopefully,
when
the
economy
restores
itself,
you
know
21
22.
Whenever
we
get
back
on
that
that
track
that
we've
been
on
in
the
past.
B
J
Mr
mayor,
I
think
in
your
opening
comments
about
the
a
new
administration
and
what
a
new
congress
may
pass,
and
I
think
I
asked
this
question
at
our
workshop
meeting
and
mr
drew
provided
us
some
insight,
but
I
think
it's
just
very
clear
that
the
funds
that
they
were
discussing
back
in
those
early
discussions
in
the
spring
and
summer
of
this
year,
those
monies
if
passed,
would
cover
this
shortfall
and-
and
I
think
you
kind
of
alluded
to
it.
But
I
think
it's
also
just
very
important.
B
Right,
I
I
think
I
was
quoted
as
saying.
If
that
thing
had
passed,
we
we
wouldn't
be
having
this
discussion
and
I've
mentally
figured
it
out
today
that,
if,
if
just
20
of
what
the
house
pass
comes
through
to
us,
we
would
have
no
need
for
a
millage
increase
or
adjustment
to
the
los
t,
just
20
of
what
the
house
already
passed
and
and
the
others
didn't
agree
to.
But
so
I
I.
A
M
M
That's
right.
Question
is
at
the
last
budget
workshop
amy.
You
know
I
asked
if
we
had
looked
at
it
at
our
properties
and
seen
if
there
may
be
a
property
or
two
that
we
could,
that
might
be.
You
know
very
valuable
that
we
can
move
back
to
the
private
sector.
Have
we
looked
at
all
into
that
of
doing
that.
G
H
M
Well,
my
my
whole
thought
process
is:
if
you
ask
our
constituents,
would
y'all
rather
pay
a
tax
increase
or
sell?
You
know
a
piece
of
property.
They
would
probably
take
some
piece
of
property
because
at
the
end
of
the
day,
we're
going
to
have
to
reach
in
their
pockets
when
they've
struggled
just
as
much
as
we
have
if
more,
if
not
more
in
the
private
sector.
So
I
would.
I
would
just
hope
that
we
would
look
at
all
possible
alternatives.
B
A
A
That
we
are
privy
to,
I
mean
I'd
love
to
be
able
to
see
some
of
their
quests,
and
you
know
that
departments
make
for
additional
personnel
or
staff,
or
vice
versa.
Some
of
the
departments
that
that
we
may
feel
maybe
maybe
are
top
having
I'll
just
say
that.
But
I
do
know
that
there's
been
several
departments
have
made
requests
for
additional
staff
that
have
not
been
approved.
So
what's
the
best
way
to
to
get
that
information.
B
H
E
H
H
H
G
B
B
So
you
know
we
we
just
have
to
recast
our
our
our
revenue.
We'd
have
to
go
back
to
looking
at
furloughs
and
laying
off
employees.
I
think
at
that
at
that
point,
which
is
something
we
would
like
not
to
do
and
and
even
though
again
it
may
seem.
I
agree
with
councilmember
griffin.
We
gotta,
we
gotta
pass
a
budget
based
on
what
we
know
right
now,
but
I
I
certainly
am
hopeful
we
can
make
adjustments
next
year.
A
C
C
C
C
And
I'm
happy
to
and
I'm
happy
for
to
go
through
this
line
by
line,
if
that's
what
we
need
to
do,
because
that's
how
it
is
our
responsibility,
as
was
said
in
the
very
beginning,
to
be
good
stewards
to
our
citizens
and
they
work
their
tails
off
for
every
penny
that
they
make
and
we
need
to
honor
that
and
be
respectful
of
it.
So
if
we
need
to
take
the
time
to
do
that,
then
that's
what
we
need
to
do.
B
Well,
I
I
I
hear
you
I
respect
that.
I
I
also
would
respectfully
say
that
I
believe
we
are
being
good
stewards
and
and
very
balanced
about
the
proposal,
given
that
we've
had
hiring
freeze
in
effect
for
a
year
and
keeping
that
in
place
for
another
year
and
no
cost
of
living
adjustments
and
reductions
by
all
departments.
B
We
certainly
find
for
you
to
look
through
line
by
line
and
make
any
suggestions
that
that
you
think
appropriate
that'd
be
fine
and,
in
addition
to
the
council
member
sacrament
we'll
send
that
to
everyone
be
interested
to
get
your
input.
We
feel
like
we're
at
a
point.
After
asking
our
department
heads
to
look
through
their
budgets
make
make
reductions
and
the
budget
finance
staff
made
additional
reductions,
we're
at
the
point
where
you
know
we'd
be
laying
laying
employees
off
and
we
need
to
be
able
to
provide
those
services.
C
E
Was
it's
too
expensive
to
do
business
on
king
street?
I
mean
we
heard
that
a
lot
that
we've
priced
ourselves
out
of
the
market,
local
businesses,
have
been
tough
to
get
in
there.
And
you
know,
one
of
the
things
we
got
to
do
is
work
for
a
way
to
get
to
some
equities
on
rents
and
the
likes.
So
we
can
jump
start
and
revive
and
do
all
the
things
we
do
in
that
corridor.
E
That's
been
a
constant
theme
every
single
week
that
we've
sat
in
on
those
meetings
and
when
we
start
rolling
back
local
ops
and
sales
taxes
and
raising
property
taxes,
particularly
in
that
corridor,
we're
going
the
exact
opposite
direction,
because
that
will
all
get
that
will
all
flow
through
from
property
owner
to
business,
that's
occupying
which
is
mostly
renters,
and
I
just
think
it's
a
huge
conundrum
that
you
know
when
when
we
get
this
budget,
those
are
on.
The
committee
have
to
go
back
and
sort
of
talk
to
our
constituency,
particularly
that
corridor
and
explain
this.
E
It's
it's
going
to
prompt
some
legitimate
questions
and
I
think
that
you
know
to
to
give
amy
a
signal
that
we're
automatically
going
to
go
vote
for
a
rollback
of
loss
and
a
property
tax
increase
when
we've
had
the
king
street
corridor.
Among
other
places,
tell
us
that
you
know
the
car
as
the
cost
of
doing
business
goes
up.
The
chances
of
us
bringing
people
back
onto
the
street
goes
down.
E
That
is
that's
problematic,
so
it's
it's
all
tied
in.
I
get
it
and
we
have
to
do
what's
best
and
we
know
we
have
to
have
a
balanced
budget,
but
I
think
we
need
to
think
about
issues
like
that
and
that's
not
the
only
corridor
in
the
city.
That's
going
to
need
some
jump
starting
and
some
help
I
mean
we've,
you
know,
got
the
citadel
mall
sitting
there,
laying
in
wait
to
go
and
again
the
more
the
taxes
go
up,
the
less
it
is
attractive
for
business
to
go
in,
affordable
housing
gets
more
expensive.
E
The
more
you
carry
calls
some
properties
are,
so
you
know
by
my
calculation
the
way
that
we're
getting
to
this
budget
without,
and
I
think
someone
asked
the
question
early,
I
think-
was
council
member
wearings
like
if
we,
if
someone
asks
us
what
the
difference
between
the
2020
budget
is
in
terms
of
cuts,
there
really
isn't
much.
I
wrote
down
535
000
of
difference,
so
we've
got
about
the
same
amount
of
revenues
and
in
in
there
and
the
same
amount
of
expenditures.
E
You
know
that
we're
we're
looking
at
a
six
mil
property
tax
increase,
total
between
lost
and
and
the
millage
that
we're
putting
in
there
and
and
that's
going
to
be
one.
That's
going
to
be
tough,
to
explain
without
a
little
bit
more
discussion
about
that
to
those
who
are
trying
to
get
out
there
and
jumpstart.
What
we
now
know
is
the
core
of
our
economy,
tourism
and
the
retail
business.
So
it's
a
long
way.
E
Long
answer
is
saying:
we've
got
some
challenges,
and
I
I
mean,
as
I
went
through
this
budget,
got
it
yesterday,
thinking
about
some
of
the
things
that
council
members
have
talked
about.
I
think
we
probably
do
owe
it
to
ourselves
collectively
to
at
least
go
back
and
look
again
and
see.
If
there's
some
things,
we
can
do
to
ease
that
pain.
So
we
can
do
the
very
thing
we
said
we
wanted
to
do,
which
was
jump,
start
the
local
economy,
and
that's
that
that's
the
conundrum
that
I
think
we
all
face
right,
understood.
D
Thank
you,
mr
mayor,
and
I
you
know,
I
think
this
is
a
very
important
discussion
that
we're
having
today,
I
mean
none
of
us.
You
know,
ran
for
office
and
and
signed
up
for
this
job
to
raise
taxes
on
people.
This
is
not
what
anybody
wants
to
be
doing
right
now,
but
obviously
we're
under
an
extreme
duress
that
is
not
of
our
making
and
we're
having
to
make
these
tough
choices
and
I've
sat
in
the
budget
ad
hoc
meetings.
D
D
I
just
think
the
devil
is
in
the
details
here
and
that,
without
you
know
fully,
you
know
acknowledging
the
you
know
the
the
the
the
costs
and
benefits
of
what
what
we,
what
we
have
on
the
table
here.
You
know
this
this.
This
is
just
a
philosophical
discussion
that
that
you
know
is
not
really
connected
to
the
the
real
reality
of
what
our
budget
is
and
the
services
we
provide
and
what
we
need
to
do.
D
D
This
is
all
information
that's
publicly
available
and
we
can
look
at
and
I'd
welcome.
You
know
proposals
from
the
folks
on
council
that
are
opposed
to
these
increases
on
alternatives,
because
at
the
end
of
the
day,
unlike
the
federal
government,
we
have
to
balance
our
budget,
we
can't
run
deficits,
we
can't
print
money
we
have
to.
We
have
to
run
a
tight
ship
and
we've
been
running
a
tight
ship
in
the
city
of
charleston
for
years.
That's
how
we
were
able
to
close.
D
You
know
the
42
million
dollar
budget
shortfall
this
year,
when
north
charleston
had
to
lay
off
people
when
other
governments
weren't
able
to
close
the
budget
gap
without
raising
taxes.
But
we
could
only
take
so
much.
The
city
of
charleston
can
only
take
so
much
given
the
constraints
that
we're
under
and
the
services
that
we
have
to
provide.
So
I
would
just
close
by
saying
we
need
to
pivot
as
a
council,
from
sort
of
broad
philosophical
talk
to
real
specifics,
on
what
we're
going
to
do,
because,
again,
the
devil's
in
the
details.
B
K
K
Yes,
council,
member
council,
member
del
toro,
you
remind
me
of
me,
my
first
or
second
year,
where
I
did
what
you
said.
You're
going
to
do.
I
literally
went
through
the
budget
line
by
line
actually
hiring
people
to
help
me.
Okay
and
after
going
through
it
line
by
line,
I
ended
up
at
the
same
place
where
the
recommendations
were
so.
I
applaud
you
if
that
is
something
that
you
want
to
undertake,
but
it
is
more
than
a
notion
and
you're
just
being.
K
We
didn't
just
end
up
here.
We
went
through
three
or
four
or
five
different
iterations
of
the
budget,
all
of
which
had
very
different
outcomes,
and
in
doing
so,
the
ad
hoc
committee
concluded
that
this
was
the
best
of
the
bunch,
because
one
it
protected
our
number
one
priority,
which
is
public
safety.
K
K
J
D
M
J
J
J
I
hate
to
use
this
word
fully
funding
that
may
be
a
bad
analogy,
but
we
never
gave
each
department
head
all
that
they
wanted.
We
have
asked
them
to
go
back
time
after
time
to
say
I'm
sorry,
you're
gonna
have
to
wait
and
bring
that
to
us
next
year.
Oh
we'll
partially
fund
some
of
these
things.
When
we
talk
about
our
options
in
doing
these
furloughs,
our
options
are
very
clearly,
and
I
think
some
of
us
said
this.
Some
of
our
options
on
this
are
furloughs
are
firing.
J
J
Put
us
all
in
perspective
a
little
bit,
I'm
looking
at
the
2020
budget
that
we
passed
a
year
ago,
and
I
pulled
this
off
of
our
website.
Our
property
taxes
on
revenue
from
2020
were
right.
Around
90
million
dollars,
90
million
dollars
in
revenue
from
our
property
taxes,
our
public
safety
budget
alone,
gobbled.
All
that
up
it
was
103
million
dollars.
J
J
Are
our
expenses,
are
public
safety
and
and
when
you
start
talking
about
cutting,
unless
you
eliminate
an
entire
department
completely-
and
we
don't
have
that
function
anymore,
unless
you
unless
you're
ready,
I
mean
this
is
the
word
we're
gonna
have
to
use.
This
is
where
we
have
to
tell
people
we're
defunding
the
police.
J
We're
gonna
have
to
defund
the
police
in
order
to
make
this
ballot
budget
work.
So
here's
our
choice-
and
this
is
a
hobson's
choice.
I
don't
want
to
make-
and
I
don't
want
to
vote
for
this
this
way,
but
we've
got
an
obligation
to
the
community
to
say
to
them.
This
is
what
we
have
to
do
and
I
agree
with
everybody.
We
have
to
take
this
budget
on
the
on
the
on
the
assumption
and
the
reality
that
we
may
not
get
any
help
from
anybody
else.
J
We're
not
getting
help
from
the
federal
government
or
the
state
government
or
any
other
thing.
That's
going
to
take
place.
We're
going
to
have
to
pass
this
budget
with
the
idea
of
a
three
mil
increase
in
the
50
of
the
local
options,
sales
tax,
not
being
refunded.
That's
the
reality
that
we're
going
to
have
to
talk
about,
but
we're
our
backs
are
against
the
wall
with
all
of
us
and
we
don't
have
a
choice.
J
There's
no
other
line
item
to
cut
we've
already
cut
10
percent
from
every
department
to
get
it
to
the
point
that
we're
at
we've
already
balanced,
with
a
shortfall
fall
between
40
or
42
million
dollars
and
expected
revenues
for
our
2020
budget.
We
came
out
of
that.
Okay,
with
a
triple
a
rating,
which
was
a
miracle,
I
mean
the
the
credit
to
the
finance
department
for
doing
that
is
just
sometimes.
I
can't
have
enough
adjectives
to
explain
how
they
were
able
to
do
that.
J
I
don't
like
doing
this,
and
if
I
had
my
preference,
I
would
find
another
option
to
do
it,
but-
and
here
we
are,
we,
we
don't
have
many
other
choices.
If
there
were
I'd,
be
the
first
person
to
be
standing
out
there
hitting
my
wooden
spoon
against
the
lid
of
a
tin,
garbage
can
saying
folks
come
join
us
on
doing
it
this
way
instead,
but
we
really
just
don't
have
any
other
options
with
all
of
us.
Thank
you,
mr
mayor.
B
Well,
thank
you
and-
and
let
me
just
offer
that
you
know
we,
the
the
ad
hoc
committee
members,
have
really
had
an
extra
layer
of
scrutiny
of
all
of
this,
including
the
expense
side,
and
if
council
would
like
to
have
another
workshop,
where
we
just
focus
on
the
expense
side
and
go
department
by
department
and
share
with
you,
you
know
some
of
the
decisions
that
were
made
over
the
last
six
months.
I
am
happy
to
do
that
before
we
get
to
december
1.
council
member
griffin.
M
Yes,
sir,
just
responded
to
council
member
appel
and
councilmember
shea
is
saying:
come
up
with
another
idea,
sell
the
volvo
car
stadium
and
sell
joe
riley
park.
I
mean
we,
we
don't
need
to
be
in
control
of
those
sell
them.
That's
what
I'm
saying
there
is
another
option
and
we're
not
looking
at
it.
I
understand
we're
saying
that's
a
one-time
benefit,
but
this
is
a
one-time
pandemic.
L
Thank
you,
I
believe
me.
I
feel
I
feel
you
paying
councilman
el
chapo
and
councilman
seeking
because
he's
been
here
actually
longer
than
I,
but
I
thought
about
a
council
person
who
who
was
on
council,
who
needed
a
fire
station
and
needed
a
this,
is
when
mitt
riley
was
and
needed
a
hook
and
led
a
fire
truck,
went
to
a
homeowners
association
meeting
the
mayor
suggested
a
one
and
a
half
mill
tax
increase
and
there
were
60
people
that
turned
out
to
the
homeowners
association.
L
L
L
That's
out
there,
and
I
I
told
that
council
person
at
the
time
I
said:
listen,
you
got
to
do
what
you
think
is
right
and
I'm
not
saying
that
person
didn't
do
what
was
right,
but
you
have
to
do
what
is
right
for
the
people
at
that
time,
the
closest
hook
and
ladder
fire
truck
was
in
avondale
and
three-story
buildings
were
being
built,
12
minutes
away.
So
if
you're
on
the
third
story
and
the
fire
is
at
your
back,
you
can't
wait.
L
L
Ten
years
later,
we've
got
less
employees.
Let's
call
about
140
150,
less
employees
to
run
this
city,
and
we've
got
about
30
000
more
people
to
serve.
So
I
we
really
don't
have
an
expense
problem.
It
really
is
on
the
income
side,
if
you
were
to
say
oh
there's
some
fat
there
and
I'll
tell
you
where
I
think
some
fat
is
on
this
budget.
I
think
some
of
the
fat
is
in
the
medical
benefits,
but
then
you're
looking
at
trimming
and
we're
just
about
closing
the
open
season
on
the
medical
benefits.
L
There
is
an
extra
layer
when
you're
on
the
budget
ad
hoc
committee,
and
it
may
be
best
if
you
know,
like
lemaz,
said
we
have
another
workshop.
So
some
of
those
other
items
that
we
have
had
the
advantage
of
drilling
down
on
you
get
to
see
as
well
of
those
who
are
not
on
get
to
see
as
well
and
when
councilman
gregory
said
that
part
about
his
first
year
or
two
on
council.
L
L
He
was
on
council
a
lot
longer
than
that
saying
the
same
thing
so
and
I
I
know
it's
not
funny,
but
I
mean-
and
just
I
and
I
know
other
council
people,
including
youtube.
We
have
worked
harder
on
this
budget
that
I
know
I
worked
in
my
own
business.
I
said
that
to
my
wife
a
couple
of
times
I
said
man
this.
This
is
the
hardest
year.
I'm
in
my
ninth
year,
we've
always
had
additional
money
year
over
year,
but
to
to
go
and
have
a
a
reduction
in
income.
L
Councilman
appel
is
right
and
others
have
said
it
the
piece
about
selling.
Let's
take
riley
stealing,
then
you
get
back
to
the
quality
of
their
life,
rob
that
that
baseball
team,
when
it's
you
know,
obviously
it's
striking
by
goldwood
also,
but
that's
probably
one
of
the
best
family
buys
in
the
little
country
for
a
family
to
go
to
a
baseball
game
and
not
rip
up
hundreds
of
thousands
of
dollars
to
simply
get
into
a
park
to
share
family
fun.
L
This
will
be
the
first
time
that
I
will
vote
for
that
and
if
my
constituents
come
up
and
ask
me
why
the
heck
did
you
do
that,
I
would
tell
them
that
the
majority
of
our
employees
frankly
are
overworked
and,
in
my
opinion,
underpaid.
So
are
the
exceptions
out
there?
Of
course
I
mean
you
got
a
person
on
the
back
of
a
sanitation
truck
getting
paid
less
than
15
bucks
an
hour,
it's
hard
to
say
that
that
person's
overpaid.
L
We
still
got
employees
that
still
work
for
this
city,
full
time
that
doesn't
have
a
little,
but
we
yeah
we're
trying
to
get
there.
We
can't
get
there
this
year,
but
we
certainly
have
the
process
in
place
to
get
them
there.
So
it
is
a
little
bit
unfair
that
we
have
had
the
additional
information
and
we've
actually
gone
to
the
point
of
of
in
the
movie
american
president.
L
They
had
this
guy
named
dave
that
came
in
you,
know,
cpa
and
went
through
the
federal
budget,
cutting
this
and
cutting
that
we
actually
have
done
that
and
I'm
telling
you
to
say
that
there's
no
fat
there.
I
won't
say
that
because
we're
all
human,
but
if
you're
going
to
do
some,
go,
find
some
real
dollars,
you're
going
to
have
to
go
to
the
health
care
budget
to
find
it
and
the
windows
closing
on
that
and
or
you
definitely
and
you're,
not
gonna,
get
it
all
from
there.
L
You're
definitely
gonna
have
to
furlough
or
cut
people.
I
have
to
start
with
the
police,
the
fire
and
the
sanitation
workers,
because
that's
about
two-thirds,
if
not
more
of
the
budget,
so
believe
me.
I
feel
that
way.
I
don't
want
to
raise
taxes
either,
but
all
I
can
see
right
now.
You
know
I'm
a
financial
advisor.
L
At
this
thing
upward
downward
sideways,
and
this
is
the
the
best
thing
I
think
that
we
can
do
going
forward
and
if
we
don't,
if
we
do
get
monies
from
local
governments
in
the
feds,
and
we
don't
use
that
money
to
restore
the
lost
revenue
back
to
the
taxpayers,
then
yeah.
I
won't
be
saying
that
they've
been
some
untruthful
people
in
this
process
because,
but
I
don't
think
that's
the
case.
I
think
everybody's
going
to
be
true
to
form
and
true
to
their
integrity
and
give
that
money
back.
L
If
the
legal
capacity
is
there
to
do
it
and
if
there's
legal
capacity
in
there
to
do
it,
then
we
may
need
to
find
another
way
to
do
it,
but
certainly
give
it
back
to
the
loss.
So
we
can
reduce
the
taxes
on
the
millage
side,
but
so
I
mean
you
hear
that
a
couple
of
times,
but
it's
not
because
we
want
to
do
this.
Actually
it
makes
it
easier
for
whatever
opponent
that's
going
to
run
against
you.
L
F
Thank
you,
mr
mayor.
I
just
want
to
say
to
councilmember
del
chapo.
I
I
really
appreciate
the
fact
that
you've
put
it
out
there
your
reservations
about
the
way
that
we're
going
to
have
to
balance
this
budget
by
raising
revenues
from
from
our
citizens
and
our
business
owners,
and
I
know
that
that's
painful
philosophically,
and
I
know
that
it's
going
to
be
painful
to
the
people
who
end
up.
You
know
paying
us
more
on
an
annual
basis,
but
honestly,
the
way
that
I
can
be
peaceful
about
this
right
now
is
we.
F
We
live
in
a
community
that
relies
on
a
trickle-down
economy,
it'd
be
different.
If
we
were
in
the
middle
of
nowhere,
and
we
could
say,
we
could
tighten
our
belts
and
ask
our
citizens
to
sacrifice
and
not
have
the
you
know
the
the
services
that
they
have
come
to
know
and
love
from
us
and
and
really
have
a
have.
The
kind
of
you
know
revenue
that
people
had
in
the
depression
where
they
were
bartering,
chickens
and
emptying
each
other's
trash,
and
things
like
that.
F
I
think
that
could
be
a
very
enlarging
and
an
exhilarating
process
for
citizens.
In
a
community
that
that
did
not
get
55
of
its
annual
revenue
from
outsiders,
essentially,
when
you
talk
about
fees
and
sales
tax,
we
have
we
have
the
benefit,
but
also
the
responsibility
of
having
a
city
that
is
going
to
be
desirable
for
people
to
come
and
give
us
that
55
cents
on
every
dollar.
F
If
we
do
not
have
the
functionality
that
people
that
want
to
come
and
be
in
charleston
and
spend
their
enough
money
and
share
it
with
our
city's
revenue
stream,
we
we
would
not
have
those
people,
we
would
not
have
the
benefit
of
those
55
cents
on
every
dollar.
So
I
think
it
is.
You
know
we're
caught
between
the
double
and
the
deep
blue
sea
on
that.
We
can't
afford
to
stop
doing
the
things
that
are
going
to
bring
our
revenue
back
in
charleston.
F
F
You
know
we're
we're
in
a
location
crunch
compared
to
some
of
the
other
tri-county
areas
that
that
can
entice
manufacturing
still
have
the
luxury
of
turning
fields
into
warehouses
and
shipping
them
to
the
port
and
all
the
things
we
read
about
in
the
business
section
every
day,
we're
really
in
a
constrained
environment
geographically
in
in
in
the
city
boundaries
you
have
cain
hoya,
council,
member,
and
god
bless
you
on
that.
I
I
can't
imagine
what
it's
going
to
be
like
to
represent
that
kind
of
growth,
but
we
know
it's
all.
F
F
F
H
H
All
of
those
expenses
are
things
that
we're
required
to
do
their
bond
payments
and
things
like
that
agreements
that
we
have
so
those
are
the
expenses
for
state
accommodations
tax.
We
had
no
applications
this
year
for
that
funding,
knowing
that
the
revenues
would
not
support
us
being
able
to
give
it
to
any
organizations-
and
we
are
using
a
little
bit
of
fund
balance
for
that
as
well.
H
K
H
Any
questions
on
that,
oh
okay,
next
is
our
municipal
accommodations
tax.
Municipal
accommodations
is
a
fifty
fifty
one
percent
one
percent
capital
improvements,
one
percent
property
tax
relief.
As
you
can
see,
that's
a
2020
proposed
budget
versus
what
we're
proposing
for
2021.
Again,
revenues
are
significantly
less
in
2021.
H
H
H
These
are
all
the
operating
expenditures
that
we
pay
out
of
this
fund
entertainment
district,
their
agreements
for
the
international
african-american
museum,
the
family
circle
cup,
which
is
now
really
volvo
gill
yard
management
corporation.
Some
debt
operating
costs
for
the
gill
yard,
the
1
million
dollar
contribution
to
the
mother
emanuel
memorial,
because
we
had
that
two-year
commitment.
H
We
did
the
one
million
dollars
in
this
year
in
2020,
another
million
for
2021
and
then
the
renovation
to
the
volvo
tennis
center
and
then
debt
service
as
well.
Well,
we
cannot
that's
the
other
part.
We
cannot
pay
the
revenue
bond
out
of
out
of
the
hospitality
fee,
so
we're
paying
that
out
of
state
accommodations
and
then
transfers
to
the
general
fund.
Usually
we
do
about
5.3
million
we're
only
able
to
do
3.8,
and
then
these
are
all
the
other
transfers
out
that
we
have
for
projects
and
such
any
questions
on
that.
L
H
H
Some
of
the
council
members
asked.
The
ad
hoc
committee
had
asked
for
this,
because
we
have
non-general
fund
programs
that
a
lot
of
people
look
at
our
general
fund
and
they
think
that
we're
not
funding
certain
programs
or
initiatives
very
well
because
they're
looking
at
the
general
fund
budget,
but
actually
we
have
other
funds.
We
have
special
revenue
funds.
We
have
capital
improvement
funds
that
that
actually
fund
a
lot
of
our
initiatives,
so
we're
going
to
kind
of
go
through
those,
especially
for
affordable
housing.
So
you'll
see
in
the
2021
general
fund
draft
budget.
H
So
and
though,
in
the
special
revenue
funds,
which,
if
you
look
at
our
kaffir,
you
can
see
you
can
see
all
these
funds
in
the
kafir.
So
anybody
can
look
this
up
fee
in
lieu
for
affordable
housing
we
collected
since
2017
7.9
million
dollars.
We've
purchased
several
properties
with
the
intent
to
create
affordable
housing
on
those
on
those
parcels.
We've
partnered
with
the
charleston
housing
authority
to
develop
approximately
155
units
of
combined
rental,
owner-occupied
and
workforce
housing,
ranging
from
30
to
150
ami.
G
G
H
H
We
had
the
ldc
settlement,
which
was
around
22.8
million.
The
city
received
10
million
dollars
in
those
sediment
funds.
We
have
awarded
forgivable
loans
and
repayable
loans.
Both
have
obviously
have
criteria
that
needs
to
be
met
and
we've
partners
partnered
with
the
charleston
redevelopment
corporation
to
administer
those
funds.
H
B
B
The
fact
that
some
folks
didn't
think
we
were
doing
much
on
on
initiatives
like
this
and
if
you
look
at
the
general
fund,
it
does
look
like
that.
What
it
looked
that
way
and
that's
why
we
just
wanted
to
do
a
little
education
about
all
the
other
funding
sources
and
initiatives.
We
have
going
councilmember
warren.
L
Thank
you,
mr
man.
Thank
you
so
much
amy
and
them
for
pulling
this
together,
but
believe
it
or
not
we're
doing
so
much
we're
still
missing
out
on
some
things,
for
example,
the
efforts
to
clean
up
what
was
tent
city-
I'm
sure
that's
not
factored
in
here
somewhere,
and
I
forget
they
helped
me
out
on
this.
It
was
a
place
we
you
all
brought
that
to
enable
challenge.
People
is
to
have
a
place
to
go
and
shower,
and.
G
L
The
the
in
the
paper
this
morning,
as
a
matter
of
fact,
the
att
project
started
up.
That's
gonna
help
the
drainage
project
through
west
oak
forest
come
on,
which
is
a
10
million
dollar
project.
I'm
talking
about
I'll
share
this
in
the
not
to
mention
18
t's
portion
and
moving
a
a
fiber
optic,
cable,
putting
it
deeper.
So
so
we
can
have
it
finish.
L
The
gravity
flow
drainage
system
up
in
there
right
now
where
water
threat
goes
into
some
people's
homes,
doing
heavy
rain
events,
that's
through
a
predominantly
african
american
neighborhood.
So
I
those
dollars
should
be
those
professors
at
the
college
of
charleston
and
others
who
joined
in
raised
a
tremendous
issue
and
if,
if
we're
only
300
000
that
we're
doing,
we
all
should
be
ashamed,
but
that's
just
not
the
case.
L
We
know
it,
but
they
don't
so
as
as,
as
our
city
goes
through
and
comes
up
with
these
examples,
and
maybe
we
can
break
it
out
by
by
year.
But
there
are
other
council
members
on
here
that
will
think
of
something
that
I
didn't
think
of.
I'm
sure
miss
jackson
can
think
of
something.
I
didn't
think
that
councilman
gregory
and
mitchell
areas
that
where
this
city
is
really
socially
responsible,
frankly
to
all
communities
when
it
kind
of
comes
to
our
spending.
L
L
Maybe
other
cities
will
see
it
in
north
charleston
say
you
know
we're
gonna,
try
that
one
up
here,
maybe
mom
pleasure,
can
learn
from
it
as
well,
which
helps
the
region.
So
I
appreciate
them
raising
the
question
of
defund
the
police,
so
we
can
do
you
know
these
socially
responsible
initiatives
turns
out
we're
doing
way
more
than
5
million
annually
and
have
been
doing
more
than
5
million
for
several
years
now
I
don't
know
whether
we've
been
doing
it
for
40
years,
but
we've
been
doing
it.
L
She
has
since
gone
to
the
ldc
and
pulled
in
additional
revenues
that
were
that's
going
to
enable
those
88
units
88
units
in
the
area.
That's
really
needed
most.
So
so
thank
you
so
much
and
giving
the
gravity
with
all
you
have
to
do.
Pull
this
information
out,
but
yeah.
We
need
to
let
the
people
know.
F
It
really
was
something
that
was
very
disappointing
in
the
in
the
latest
referendum,
where
people
really
didn't
appreciate
that
by
the
county,
having
that
little
nest
egg
of
funding,
they
were
going
to
be
able
to
leverage,
probably
a
billion
or
more
dollars
by
the
time
they
they
would
have
taken
out
a
bond
debt
and
then
brought
in
investors
who
would
have
actually
built
properties
that
would
use
private
money.
So
I
do
feel
like
we
have
a
responsibility
to
continue
to
educate
our
citizens
about
the
value
of
those
sorts
of
seed
money
opportunities.
K
K
I
think
we
need
to
be
able
to
tell
that
story
and
knowledge
is
power,
because
I
don't
think
that
the
citizens
really
realize
the
kind
of
investment
this
city
has
put
in
over
the
years
in
affordability
period
and
not
to
talk
about
utility
assistance.
Okay,
that
also
comes
from
the
community
development
block,
grant
programs,
rental
assistance.
K
Okay,
in
some
cases
that
comes
from
community
development
block
grant
and
while
that's
being
administered
by
another
entity
again,
these
are
things
that
I
think
that
the
public
needs
to
know.
They
need
to
know
about
the
the
emergency
shelter
program
that
is
also
being
administered
by
the
city
and
again,
the
homeless
piece
that
councilman
waring
talked
about
so
again,
I
think
we
need
to
really
tell
our
story
in
terms
of
the
kind
of
efforts
that
our
city
has
been
involved
in
over
the
years
in
in
in
social
program.
Realm.
L
I
I
hate
to
jump
in
a
second
time,
but
if
you
would
allow
even
in
parks
and
recreation
higgins,
pier
mr
miller
was
what
a
seven
hundred
thousand
dollar
linear
at
the
end
of
the
bikeway
linear
park
into
the
ashley
river,
beautiful,
primarily
african-american
area
carl
richardson
park,
which
is
2.4
million
in
a
former
african-american
township
over
there.
All
those
areas
you
know
need
to
be
there.
L
Please
go
take
a
look,
and
then
we
have
our
allied
situation
where
cws
paid
1.8
million
or
1.85
million
to
bring
the
water
and
the
sewer
to
greece
homes,
that's
normally
a
development
cost,
but
because
it
was
affordable
housing
that
infrastructure
was
paid
by
our
sister
agency,
so
to
speak.
So
we've
got
a
good
story
to
tell
it's
just
that
we're
so
busy
looking
forward.
Sometimes
you
know
you
don't
look
in
the
river
mirror,
but
this
on
this
one.
L
H
We
have
all
of
our
parks,
our
public
safety
buildings
and
other
public
buildings
are
accounted
for
in
those
funds,
and
currently
our
five-year
capital
improvement
plan
has
147.1
million
dollars
included
for
those
types
of
projects
and
then
also
the
drainage
fund,
which
is
a
capital
improvement
fund,
is
142.9
million
dedicated
to
drainage
infrastructure
projects
in
our
five-year
capital
improvement
plan,
and
you
know
those
are
funded
by
a
combination
of
four
mills
and
property
taxes.
Various
grants-
and
we
also
give
two
percent
of
business
license
fees
is
dedicated
to
that
annually
as
well.
H
And
I
think
I
mentioned
too,
you
know
we
have
that
open
gov
project
which
we
will
have
storyboards.
So
all
of
these
all
of
this
can
be.
We
can
tell
really
great
stories
in
that
project
and
have
that
online
for
our
citizens
as
well.
So
that's
another
project,
we're
working
on
and
then
oops.
I'm
sorry
go
ahead.
L
B
So
all
of
these
kinds
of
investments,
the
way
they
get
funded,
don't
show
up
in
our
general
fund
budget
and
hence
again,
the
point
is
just
to
share
that.
We
are
addressing
many
needs
of
our
city.
You
know
outside
of
the
regular
general
fund
budget,
any
other
questions
or
comments,
and
thanks
for
everyone's
patience.
I
know
this
is
a
tough
nut,
a
hobson's
choice
a
difficult
year
again,
we're
on
multiple
fronts,
fees
and
business.
License.
Hospitality.
B
Hospitality,
accommodations
fees
all
have
been
all
have
been
cut
this
year
due
to
the
impact
of
coba
19
and
with
with
the
requirement
and
the
responsibility
to
to
balance
our
budget.
This
is
after
many
months
of
review.
This
is
a
a
budget
that
our
ad
hoc
budget
committee
advocated
for
and
agreed
with,
and
we
bring
it
to
you.
Is
it
perfect?
No,
we
welcome
any
comments.
Any
suggestions
you
may
have
amy
will
share
the
the
detail
line
by
line
budget
item
on
the
expense
side
for
you
to
review.
B
If
you
desire,
we
can
have
another
workshop
meeting
just
to
focus
on
that,
since
that
seemed
to
be
a
topic
of
some
conversation
here
today,
glad
to
do
that
or
or
we
could
just
limit
it
to
those
non
ad
hoc
committee
members.
If,
if
you
all,
would
like
to
have
a
kind
of
special
workshop
session
to
review
those,
so
any
other
questions
or
or
comments
today,
councilmember
griffin
is
there.
M
I
mean
we
could
just
have
it
right
before
council
yeah
before
ways
and
means
I
don't
know
what
the
schedule
looks
like
for
next
week,
but
that
seems
to
me
to
be
the
easiest
way.
I'd
like
a
few
more
days
to
chew
on
this
and
have
one
more
crack
at
it
before
we
start
the
actual
voting
process.
If,
if
possible,.