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From YouTube: City of Charleston City Council Budget Workshop 11/1/22
Description
City of Charleston City Council Budget Workshop 11/1/22
A
A
Right
I'd
like
to
call
this
City
of
Charleston
City
Council
budget
Workshop
to
order
and
Amy
has
quite
a
comprehensive
presentation
for
us
all
before
we
start
I'd
just
like
to
thank
her
and
all
of
her
staff
at
budget
and
finance
for
incredible
work.
They've
done
you'll
you'll
see
from
this
presentation
the
amazing
amount
of
work
that
goes
into
it
and
and
admittedly
they
they
compile
it
all
together,
but
it
it
it
reaches
down
to
our
each
department
coming
up
with
their
Department
budget
and
setting
priorities.
A
A
A
C
C
So
we're
like
our
salary
savings,
we're
ahead
of
Target
through
September.
We
budgeted
six
point
million
six
million
dollars
in
2022
right
now.
We've
taken
about
5.7,
so
we'll
be
well
above
what
we
budgeted
for
salary
Savings
in
2022
gas
oil
lubricants
are
over
Target
I
have
a
fuel
slide.
We
can
talk
about
that
in
a
little
bit,
but
obviously,
with
fuel
prices
went
a
little
bit
crazy
on
us
this
year.
C
So
that's
understandable
and
vehicle
repairs
are
over
about
two
hundred
and
seven
thousand,
but
majority
of
that's
from
the
police
department,
and
that
was
kind
of
an
anomaly
with
them
because,
as
everyone
knows,
it
takes
forever
to
get
things
done
these
days
with
supply
chain
issues.
So
some
of
the
vehicles
there
was
a
delay
in
getting
them
repaired.
C
Operationally,
with
the
exception
of
police
and
Recreation
for
police,
it's
because
of
those
vehicle,
repairs
and
also
fuel
which
would
make
make
sense
and
then
Recreation
is
because
they're
fully
up
and
running
again
they're
having
a
lot
of
tennis,
lessons
and
other
contracts,
so
their
expenses
are
higher,
but
they
have
the
revenues
to
offset
those
expenses.
So
it's
not
really
an
issue
it
just
because
the
revenues
are
at
a
different
area.
Obviously
it
makes
the
expenses
like
like
they're
over
budget
but
they're
they're,
fine,
any
questions
on
any
of
that.
C
Okay,
this
is
fuel
costs.
We
have
been
an
ad
hoc
talking
about
this
since
probably
April
price
per
gallon.
We
budgeted
3.50
a
gallon,
which
is
where
we've
been
for
the
past
few
years.
The
price
per
gallon
as
of
September
30th,
was
three
point,
three
dollars
and
47
cents,
but
it
had
been,
as
you
can
see
right
here
in
March,
it
was
four
dollars
and
one
cent
three
dollars
and
ninety
eight
cents
in
April
4.45,
so
we're
over
time
have
been
every
month
a
little
bit
over
budget.
D
C
C
Most
revenues
are
tracking
over
budget,
with
the
exception
of
permits
and
fees,
which
is
mostly
due
to
inspection
fees
and
building
permit
fees
which
are
coming
in
under
targeted
amounts.
Biggest
areas
that
are
tracking
over
targeted
amounts
are
business
licenses
and
state
of
South
Carolina,
which
is
our
local
option.
Sales
tax
tax
on
Revenue
primarily,
and
that
fits
the
graphs
on
on
that.
E
C
C
C
E
C
Foreign
okay
I'll
go
forward
so
tourism,
as
of
September
30th.
We're
looking
really
really
good.
We've
talked
about
this
many
times
before
we're
at
94.88
of
our
budget.
As
of
the
end
of
September
for
our
Municipal,
a
attacks
99
for
State,
a
tax
83.87
for
hospitality
and
93.84
of
budget
for
tourism,
ticket
fees.
So
we'll
we're
looking
good
for
tourism.
Please
any
questions
on
that.
C
A
So
that's
a
good,
concise
conclusion
and
and
if
I
may
add
you
were
7.2
million
under
budget
on
expenses
and
then
between
General
and
Enterprise
funds.
You
were
16.6
million
over
on
the
revenue.
So
so
that's
a
swing
of
of
about
24
million
dollars
to
the
good
year
to
date.
Over
budget.
Would
that
be
sound
about
right.
A
E
C
F
F
F
C
So
now
we'll
go
to
2023
budget,
where
kind
of
where
we
are
and
putting
that
together
so
preliminary
revenues
for
a
general
fund
and
Enterprise
funds.
This
is
what
it
looks
like
right
now:
2023
basis,
271
million
between
229
for
general
fund
and
41
for
Enterprise.
It's
about
17.2
million
higher
than
2022.
C
And
then
these
are
assumptions
councilmember,
Sacramento,
I'll
kind
of
go
through
Charleston
County
we're
projecting
a
growth
rate
of
one
percent
for
vehicles
and
three
percent
for
all
real
property.
Projected
tax
credit
factor
is
point:
zero,
zero,
zero,
nine,
two
2022.
What
we
said,
the
tax
credit
Factor
at
was
.0094,
so
it's
just
a
little
bit
less
than
2022.
C
C
Okay,
local
options,
sales,
tax,
2022,
we
budgeted
23.7
million
projections
after
seven
months.
It's
27.8
million
we're
projecting
2023
at
28.3;
that's
the
same
amount
that
it's
credited
and
then
we're
assuming
three
percent
growth
lower
lower
than
the
trend
based
on
our
future
economic
uncertainty.
So
that's
where
we,
we
stayed
pretty
conservative
council
member
Sacrament
sales
tax
same
with
Burke
County
as
well,
we're
projecting
about
2.9,
so
we're
budgeting.
2.9.
D
A
A
So
Amy
just
to
interpret
this
just
taking
Charleston
County
as
the
example
here
that
you
have
on
top
so
so
we
budgeted
that
we
would
receive
in
essence,
23.7
million
dollars
of
sales
tax
and
and
just
even
after
seven
months,
sales
taxes
collections
must
be
notably
higher
than
what
we
had
projected
for
this
year.
You're
saying
we
we've
already
collected
27
or
that's
what
you're
now
projecting
we'll
collect
for
the
through
the
end
of
the
year.
A
C
A
And
and
so
you're
assuming
for
next
year,
you'll
have
just
a
three
percent
growth,
so
that's
conservative,
and
but
all
of
these
funds
are
what
make
up
what
what
goes
gets
credited
back
to
the
property
tax
bill
correct
as
far
as
well
l-o-s-t
or
local
option
sales,
tax,
100
right,
okay,
great!
Thank
you.
C
D
D
C
C
C
And
then
this
is
realize
budget
conservatively.
You
all
know
that
we
specifically
looked
at
Target
tourism,
building
fees,
business
licenses,
local
options,
sales
tax,
those
that
are
kind
of
more
economic
driven,
and
we
noted
in
the
last
recession
that
certain
revenues
were
impacted
earlier,
whereas
others
took
longer
to
be
impacted
and
because
of
that,
that's
just
what
made
us
a
little
bit
more
conservative
in
some
areas
for
certain
revenues
and
I
have
a
graph
that
kind
of
shows
why
we
did
that.
But
councilmember
Parker,
you
had
a
question.
D
C
C
The
blue
dots
show
the
pre-recession
revenue
Peak
and
the
red
horizontal
lines.
Our
bars
show
the
lowest
level
of
Revenue
collected
during
the
recession
and
the
purple
dots
indicate
when
we
return
to
our
pre-pre-recession
levels
of
Revenue.
So
most
of
our
revenues,
Hitler
lowest
points
in
2010,
and
we
noted
the
hospitality
fees.
If
you
see
here,
came
back
pretty
quickly,
which
is
ironically,
the
same
thing
that
happened
during
the
pandemic
and
that
construction
related
fees
started
to
drop
the
earliest
and
they
took
the
longest
to
rebound.
C
C
D
Thank
you,
Mr
Mayor,
it's
okay,
I
put
it
down.
I
was
just
curious.
If
we
did,
we
see
in
another
slide
where
those,
not
the
projections,
but
the
actual.
Where
did
the
Accommodations
Tax
that
wound
up?
You
know
that
went
to
the
general
fund,
the
5.5
and
the
5.5
for
Capital
and
for
operations
what
they
were
given
to,
what
they
were
used
for.
I'm.
Sorry,
so.
C
C
C
Okay,
tourism,
ticket
fees,
we're
protecting
around
375
000.
that
covers
about
half
of
the
expenditures
for
our
tourism
division.
So
that's
a
direct
transfer
into
the
general
fund
foreign
for
those
expenses
Hospitality.
This
I
wanted
to
talk
about.
I
talked
with
ad
hoc
about
this
we'd
like
to
change
the
way
that
we
determine
that
you
met
the
amount
that
we
transfer
into
the
general
fund,
because
we
typically
try
to
estimate
the
exact
cost
that
we
have,
that
our
tourism
related
and
it's
really
kind
of
hard
to
do.
C
But
for
right
now,
I
just
don't
think
we're
capturing
the
true
burden
and
cost
of
the
city
for
being
a
tourist
destination
and
I
think
we
can
do
a
better
job
of
that.
So
we
developed
a
calculation
that
we
think
is
reasonable
in
terms
of
determining
how
much
we
could
transfer
into
the
general
fund
from
Hospitality
fees.
C
And
if
you
look
at
the
number
of
average
daily
visitors,
a
city
invites
on
a
daily
basis
about
19
800
people,
which
is
a
significant
amount
of
people
that
the
city
hosts
and
provides
services
to
and
based
on
that
calculation,
we
would
be
able
to
transfer
in
an
amount
equal
to
12.65
of
our
budgeted
eligible
general
fund
expenditures
to
help
cover
the
cost.
So
that's
where
we
kind
of
came
with
that.
You
see
that
calculation
on
the
side
of
how
we
came
up
with
the
12.65
percent.
C
So
we
look
to
the
general
fund
expenditures.
Base
budget
is
218
million
dollars.
12.65
of
that
amount
would
be
about
28
million
dollars.
We
went
through
every
single
one
of
our
departments
and
looked
at
specific
expenditures
and
took
12.65
of
those
expenditures
that
we
feel
are
directly
related
to
tourism,
and
we
came
up
with
23
million
dollars
that
we
could
actually
transfer
from
Hospitality
fee
fund,
but
our
revenues
we're
only
projecting
23.5
million.
C
So
obviously
we
wouldn't
want
to
transfer
all
of
that
and
we
have
previous
commitments.
You
all
know
that
utilize
Hospitality
fees,
so
we
wouldn't
be
able
to
transfer
in
that
full
amount,
because
we
have
for
your
current
commitments
with
like
the
Gilead
Charleston,
the
tennis
center
on
Daniel
Island,
all
of
those
and
also
some
capital
projects
that
we
need
to
finish
up
as
well.
C
D
C
It
it
could
be
anything
really.
You
know
when
police
respond
to
certain
things,
it's
it's
every
single
one
of
our
departments,
tourism.
You
know
there
a
lot
of
their
things
that
they're
doing
fire
department
when
they're
responding
to
certain
things,
downtown
for
or
even
anywhere
like
tourist
related.
All
of
that
could
be
covered
more
with
hospitality
funds.
So.
B
C
D
A
I
would
add
that
this
approach
is
a
little
broader
than
we've
done
in
the
past,
which
I
commend
Amy
and
the
team
for
taking
this
broad
approach,
which
allows
us
to,
in
essence,
capture
more
of
the
hospitality
funding
for
our
everyday
services
that
we
provide,
and
you
think
about
it.
If
you've
got
19
20
000
visitors
on
average
every
day,
they're
putting
trash
in
our
trash
cans
they're
having
some
emergency
medical
thing
that
the
fire
department
has
to
respond
to
they're
having
some
issue,
perhaps
where
they
need
police
assistance.
A
The
list
could
go
on
and
on
and-
and
so
you
know-
that's
been.
One
of
the
challenges
in
the
past
is-
is
coming
up
with
a
way
that
that
rationalizes,
what
happens
in
reality
is
that
all
all
of
our
departments
do
incur
some
expense
because
of
the
hospitality
and
the
visitor
industry
that
that
we
enjoy
on
one
side
and
and
and
have
to
respond
to
and
provide
services
for
on
the
other
side.
A
C
Okay,
so
we're
developing
a
financial
policy
that
we'll
be
bringing
to
city
council
regarding
this
and
and
then
very
near
future
and
then
expenditures.
This
is
current
estimates
without
the
additional
requests
from
the
Departments,
so
base
budget
includes
everything
from
the
Department's
2022
budget,
excluding
one-time
expenditures
or
initiatives
includes
contract
prices
for
increases
for
contracted
Services.
C
Current
draft
budget
includes
222.7
million
dollars
in
expenditures
from
the
general
fund
in
32.4
in
Enterprise
funds,
and
it
does
not
include
additional
requests,
so
this
is
kind
of
where
we
are
in
comparison
to
2022's
approved
budget.
The
largest
change
is
in
non-compartmental
you'll,
see
right
here,
which
that's
Arbor
funds,
so
we
won't
receive
any
Arbor
funds
in
2023.
So
that's
why
that
would
like
such
a
big
drop.
C
Next
is
police
and
fire,
which
mostly,
is
just
our
pay
plan.
It's
a
pay
plan
adjustment.
We
did
last
year
plus
their
steps
that
they
get
and
then
public
service
is
the
same
plus
the
increase
in
contracted
Services,
because
we
have
the
new
contracts
for
the
contracted
service
areas
for
public
service
and.
H
C
A
And
and
I
would
just
point
out
Amy
that
so
not
to
confuse
folks,
even
though
we
didn't,
we
will
not
receive
any
new
arpa
funds
in
2023,
we
hadn't
allocated
all
the
funds
that
we've
received
to
date,
so
you'll
see
later
in
her
presentation,
some
some
items
that
are
being
paid
for
with
our
funds,
but
but
the
money
was
received
on
a
prior
year
that
sound
right.
That's.
C
D
C
D
C
C
C
C
So
of
the
21
million
dollars
in
additional
requests,
we
actually
went
through
and
we're
recommending
about.
12.2
of
that
be
funded
and
with
the
1.5
of
the
mandatory
Life
Safety,
which
usually
we
just
try
to
automatically
fund
the
total
amount.
We're
recommending
to
be
funded
is
13.7
million
dollars
and
of
that
amount,
3.6
can
be
covered
with
other
funding
sources
such
as
tourism
funds,
general
fund
reserves,
partners
and
parking
Reserves.
C
C
A
C
G
G
C
F
C
C
And
then,
in
addition
to
that,
you
know
we
had
had
some
HR
committee
meetings
and
went
through
kind
of
comparisons
of
where
we
are
versus
other
other
cities
in
the
Southeast
region.
So
we're
actually
recommending
because
we
did
know
that
we
there
were
some
changes
that
we
needed
to
make
some
adjustments.
We
needed
to
make
to
all
of
the
three
pay
plans
and
when
I
say
that
made
police
fire
and
non-sworn
in
that
we're.
C
We
were
talking
about
where
we
would
be
and
trying
to
get
ourselves
to
the
25th
percentile
amongst
that
Southeast
region,
but
that
included
cities
like
Charlotte,
Atlanta
and
Raleigh.
So
we
wanted
to
focus
more
just
on
on
the
state
of
South
Carolina
and
trying
to
be
the
number
one
paid
municipality
in
the
state
of
South
Carolina.
So
that's
where
we
focused
so
right
now,
our
current
rankings
compared
to
other
cities
in
South,
Carolina
and
psds
as
well.
Police
Department,
is
number
one
paid.
D
C
C
C
F
A
H
C
Fire
is
the
second
highest
paid
they're
behind
the
City
of
Greenville
and
they're,
seven
percent
away
from
being
number
one.
The
third
highest
paid
is
St,
Andrews,
PSD
and
they're
13
behind
our
average
starting
pay.
So
they
would
have
to
give
their
firefighters
a
13
increase
for
us
to
fall
into
third
place.
C
It's
kind
of
method
to
our
Madness
and
where
we
came
up
with
our
percentages
and
plus
trying
to
focus
on
that
minimum
wage
as
well.
So
just
an
aggregate
earn
average
earnings
just
to
kind
of
show.
With
our
current
pay
plan
versus
the
proposed
adjustments,
the
the
the
dotted
lines
are
the
current
pay
plan
and
the
sound
lines
or
the
proposed.
So
you
can
see
where
everybody
salaries
increase
over
time
over
the
next
five
years.
J
D
C
C
D
C
D
D
C
Any
other
questions
on
that
does
that
all
make
sense
and
then
just
I,
just
as
a
comparison
to
our
neighboring
jurisdiction,
since
this
would
get
us
to
17
an
hour
north
Charleston's
at
1635
for
full-time
15,
for
part-time
Mount
Pleasant's
at
17.27,
but
they're
on
a
37
and
a
half
hour
work
week,
so
that
inflates
their
hourly
rate
just
a
little
bit.
Just
to
give
you
a
an
idea
where
we
are
because
they're
also
on
a
July
to
June
fiscal
year,
so
in
July
they
could
give
another
pay
raise.
A
H
C
Because
if
we're
talking
about
two
for
the
police
department
and
having
their
facility
study
and
all
that
with
the
iprb
leftover
funds-
and
we
can
do
that
with
with
that
and
talking
with
Jeremy,
there
could
be
some
bond
funds
that
we
could
also
utilize
for
the
for
the
general
fund
sort
of
review
as
well.
So
I'm.
A
You
know
more
professional
position
and
we
want
to
really
drill
down
and
see
how
we
compare
on
on
you
know
all
the
positions
up
and
down
the
board,
with
this
more
detailed
study
and
and
lead
to
a
more
formal
pay
plan
for
our
on
sworn
off.
Our
non-sworn
employees,
similar
to
what
police
and
fire
have
where
they
get,
incentives
for
education,
training,
you
know
and
other
and
other
requirements
that
allow
them
to
earn
more
over
time
being
our
employees.
C
C
We,
if
you
all
remember,
we
did
allocate
about
3.7
for
the
tax
increase
in
2021,
but
we
didn't
have
to
utilize
that
those
funds,
so
we
have
those
available
and
then
we
also
gave
all
the
employees
a
bonus
in
2022.
If
you
remember,
we
pushed
the
brought
that
back
in
August
or
September
I
can't
remember,
and
that
was
3.4
million
and
with
our
salary
savings
what
they
are
right
now.
We
won't
have
to
utilize
Arbor
funds
for
that
either.
C
So
we
freed
up
those
funds
as
well,
so
we
have
6.6
million
dollars
right
now
available
foreign,
so
we
had
recommended
we're
recommending
about
2.7
million
for
one-time
expenditures
for
the
in
the
the
department
side
requested
in
the
2023
budget
to
help
with
some
fund
some
of
those
requests
that
they
had
asked
for.
But
we
also
need
to
allocate
funding
for
the
Hope
Center
and
the
James
E
Lewis
entrepreneurial
resource
center,
and
if
we,
if
we
do
use
a
2.7
for
the
2023
budget,
we'd
have
about
3.8
million
left
over
unallocated.
C
Just
one-time
expenditures,
so
there's
some
equipment
and
things
like
that.
That
departments
have
asked
for
that.
We
can
utilize
those
funds
for
there's
some
studies
and
planning
to
continue
their
comprehensive
plan.
Things
like
that
that
we
use
Arbor
funds
for
last
year.
We
could
use
those
archa
funds
for
that
again
this
year
or
I'm.
Sorry
I'm
working
three
years
normally,
but
next
year
for
2023
those
types
of
things:
it's
just
one-time
expenditure,
it's
nothing
that
would
have
an
ongoing
cost.
So.
D
C
C
Okay,
so
bottom
line,
is
it
a
surplus,
our
deficit?
So
if
we
like
I,
said
we
had
a
15.9
million
dollar
Surplus,
if
you
will
from
the
base
budget
just
where
we
are
right.
Now
we
add
the
offsetting
funding
resources
that
I
said
that
we
had
for
General
fundraisers
and
things
like
that.
That's
3.6
and
the
article
funding
of
2.7.
We
would
have
22.3
million
dollars
available
if
we
funded
the
13.7
and
the
recommended
recommended
requests
and
then
the
pay
plan
we'd
be
7.8
million
dollars
out.
C
C
E
E
E
G
C
E
G
C
Yeah
I'll
send
yesterday's
slides.
Just
remember
that
you
know.
Customer
wearing
will
really
really
like
this.
Some
of
the
numbers
have
changed
a
little
bit
because
we
had.
We
got
confirmation
from
Tulsa
water
systems
for
the
additional
amount
that
we
will
receive
from
them
in
2023,
so
those
numbers
are
in
there,
so
the
numbers
have
changed
just
a
little
bit
because
of
that.
So
if
you're,
comparing
that's
the
differences,
yeah.
E
And-
and
we
did
go
over
that
yesterday-
I
think
for
the
benefit
of
the
other
council
members
it'd
be
helpful
for
them
to
understand
the
12
million
dollars
that
are
not
life,
threateny,
life-saving
type
issues
because
I
know
where
we're
going
with
the
next
slide.
So
it
that's
sort
of
important
to
do
with
that
about
that
12
million
dollars.
Okay,.
D
A
C
So
next
steps
we
will
begin
coming
through
all
of
the
requests
to
reduce
the
amount
that
we're
recommending,
re-prioritize
our
recommendations.
Based
on
how
high
of
a
priority,
the
request
was
from
the
Departments
requests
that
have
revenue
or
other
Force
funding
sources
tied
to
them
will
be
of
higher
priority,
and
we
may
have
to
separate
out
some
of
those
requests
and
recommend
only
a
portion
of
them
based
on
the
funding
sources
and
then
we'll
have
to
look
at
with
our
current
recruitment
retention
issues.
C
Some
of
the
positions
that
we
were
recommending
and
and
just
look
through.
All
of
that
pay
plan
adjusted
like
I,
said
this.
For
us
this
is
an
absolute
Last
Resort,
but
if
there
is
decision
was
to
reduce
the
pay
plan,
this
is
how
much
each
would
reduce.
So,
if
you're
looking
at
the
cola,
which
is
for
the
whole
entire
city,
one
percent
reduction
would
yield
1.3
million
and
one
percent
to
police
pay
plan
yields.
368
000
in
savings,
fire,
301
and
non-sborne
would
be
657
000.
G
C
So
for
Revenue
we're
pretty
confident
in
our
numbers
and,
like
you
said,
we're
being
conservative,
we
can
we're
going
to
look
at
business
license
again.
That
might
be
one
area
that
we
can
increase
a
little
bit
and
then
yesterday,
when
we
were
talking,
there
was
no
decision
on
on
increasing
taxes.
The
committee
wanted
to
talk
about
that
further
with
full
Council,
so
that
will
lead
me
into
my
next
slides
unless
anybody
has
any
other
questions.
C
Okay,
so
property
taxes,
including
local
option
sales
tax-
this
is
kind
of
where
we're
focusing
so
budget
can,
like
I,
said,
considers
no
property
tax
increase,
as
it
is
right
now,
value
of
one
mill
is
1.7,
so
one
mill
obviously
would
generate
1.7
million
two
would
be
3.4
and
3
mil
to
generate
5.1
million.
Our
millage
bank
right
now
is
6.85
percent,
and
that
equates
to
5.2
mils.
D
C
So
just
keep
that
in
mind,
but
this
is
our
our
local
option:
sales
tax.
What
the
effect
is
on
our
millage,
so
the
top
line
is
our
gross
millage.
That's
basically
what
we
set
and
then
we
give
100
of
look
often
sales
tax
back
so
that
reduces
our
village
to
60
point
a
so
our
our
real
Villages,
our
gross
Village,
is
84.3,
but
what
everybody
feels
on
their
tax
bill
is
actually
a
60.8
mil
effect.
J
E
And
so,
and
we've
gone
over
this
slide
a
thousand
times,
and
those
of
us
who've,
been
on
the
ad
hoc
committee
have
seen
this
numerous
occasions
so
because
of
our
increase
in
sales,
tax
revenue
or
our
taxes
are
actually
lower
over
time,
even
with
a
three
mil
increase.
If
we
don't
give
a
hundred
percent
of
the
refund
back
to
our
property
owners,
then
the
theory
would
be
that
the
millage
would
increase.
It
would
not
be
a
60.8
right.
E
A
I
just
point
out
that
that
is
assuming
you
have
sales
taxes
collected.
You
know
to
to
cover
those
credit,
so
to
speak,
I
mean
ultimately,
the
l-o-s-t
is
driven
by
the
amount
of
sales
tax.
That's
collected
within
the
city
limits
of
Charleston,
and
if
that
grows
or
goes
down
it,
it
does
impact.
What
that
credit
will
be
as
well.
G
A
C
Okay
so
yesterday
ad
hoc
had
asked
for
some
comparisons,
so
we
have
comparisons.
The
so
we
have
North,
Charleston
and
Mount
Pleasant
Mount
Pleasant
is
an
orange.
Yellow
is
North
Charleston
and
Charleston
is
blue,
so
the
solid
lines
are
the
gross
millage.
The
dotted
lines
are
the
net
millage.
So
you
can
see
where
we
are
in
comparison
to
Mount,
Pleasant
and
North
Charleston.
C
A
C
A
They
both
utilize,
this
Revenue
source
that
we
do
not
and
honestly
I
think
that
that
has
made
a
difference
over
time.
That
has
given
them
a
little
more
flexibility
in
their
funding
sources
and
streams
to
be
able
to
be
more
competitive
on
on
employee
compensation.
And
it's
part
of
you
know
what
what
got
us
to
where
we
are
today,
but
I
just
want
to
point
out
that
these
are
two
examples
of
local
jurisdictions
that
do
utilize,
some
or
all
of
their
local
option.
E
And
man
that's
an
important
question
for
all
of
us,
because
the
the
town
of
North
Charleston
in
the
town,
I'm,
sorry,
the
city
of
North,
Charleston,
Town
of
Mount
Pleasant.
As
you
pointed
out,
he
uses
all
or
a
portion
of
that
Los
T
money
which
they
don't
give
their
taxpayers
property
owners
100
of
the
refund,
and
because
of
that,
look,
look
at
the
comparison
that
the
full
refund
gives
to
our
taxpayers.
E
Our
taxpayers
get
a
millage
credit
of
23.5
right
versus
20.75
for
North,
Charleston
and
11.25
for
the
for
the
town
of
Mount
Pleasant,
and,
to
your
point
earlier
that
you
made
and
I
heard
the
same
bragging
at
North
Charleston
would
make
that
they
re.
They
received
the
highest
level
of
sales
tax
in
in
the
state,
so
even
with
their
High
Revenue
amount
of
sales
tax.
E
J
And
just
real
quickly
I
mean.
Would
anybody
on
this
call
say
that
North
Charleston
is
not
a
business
friendly
City
and
a
business
friendly
jurisdiction
they
are,
and
so
I
think
this
is
a
data
point
that
suggests
that
rolling
back
a
bit
of
a
lost
credit.
Taking
some
of
that
money.
That's
already
on
the
table,
you
know
is
not
going
to
be
this
sort
of
insurmountable
barrier
to
Business.
Development
I
mean
you
got
to
tip
your
hat
at
the
city
to
the
city
of
North
Charleston.
They
are
open
for
business.
J
It's
easy
to
open
and
start
businesses
up
there.
So
I
just
want
I!
Think
it's
it's
it's.
You
know
unique
and
an
eye-opening
to
see
that
that
our
neighbor
to
the
north
is
pocketing
100
of
the
lost
credit
and
they
have
substantially
higher
property
taxes
than
us.
So
just
a
just
something
worth
worth
noting,
as
we
continue
to
talk
about
this
right,
absolutely.
K
Waring,
thank
you.
Mr
Smith,
Amy
I
hate
to
get
you
to
go
all
the
way
back
to
that
that
slide.
That
shows
the
salaries.
You
know
North
Charleston,
Mount
Pleasant.
All
of
us.
The
reason
I
say
that
when
you
look
at
the
groupings
after
our
pay
reason
what
North
Charleston
in
front
of
us,
it
was
Myrtle
Beach
and
Hilton
Head
and.
H
K
A
higher
higher
believe
it
or
not,
one
of
the
higher
compensating
entities
with
Saint
Andrews
PSD
and
they
don't
even
get
lost
Revenue.
So
now
go
you
know
the
one
where
you
had
to
ranks
to
the
cities.
You
know
one
two,
three,
four
yeah!
Okay,
so
if
you
look
at
non-swarm,
the
city
of
North
Charleston
is
is
seven
and
they
actually
use
them
some
of
the
laws
from
revenue
and
have
higher
higher
property
taxes.
Let.
K
Point
I
agree
with
you,
but
again
this
is
before
any
pay
adjustment
yeah
from
the
police
standpoint.
It's
not
North
Charleston,
it's
the
City
of
Charleston
from
the
fire
standpoint.
It's
not
North
Charleston,
the
matter
of
facts
and
Andrew's
PSD
is
in
front
of
North
Charleston
and
then
obviously
we
all
know
that
we've
been
behind
without
knowledge
and
that's
why
I
think
I'll
be
shocked,
that
the
pay
reasons
for
all
knowledge
more
I
mean
for
our
nons.
Well,
actually,
everybody
doesn't
go
through.
So
when
you
look
at
this
chart
before
we.
K
Look
at
non-sworn
and
San
Angelo's
PSD:
they
don't
have
lost
Revenue.
They
don't
even
get
it.
Okay,
it's
not
North
Charleston,
so
I
I
respectfully
disagree
that,
because
of
their
utilization
of
non
soil,
I
mean
of
lost
Revenue
that
they
have
surpassed
us
in
compensating
our
employees
non-sworn.
You
get
no
argument
out
of
me
on
that,
but
the
two
largest
Parts
our
budget
is
police
and
fire,
and
they
they
woefully
behind
in
that.
So
anyway,.
A
A
K
A
A
We
can't
dissect
that
and
go
line
by
line
council
member
shade
on
those
24
pages
and
decide
something
you
want
to
keep
or
or
not
keep.
But
that's
that's
part
of
the
discussion
at
this
point.
We
need
to
make
an
assumption
and
and
try
to
figure
out
how
how
to
pay
for
the
differential,
regardless
Amy,
okay,.
A
C
B
C
K
K
K
Management,
in
other
words,
with
the
millages,
is
what
it
is,
so
they
almost
33
Mills
higher,
then
so
32.9
mils
higher
than
the
net
60.8
for
the
City
of
Charleston.
It's
not
even
close,
and
you
know
what.
If
you
went
online
today
and
tried
to
find
their
budget
I'll
buy
you
dinner,
you
can't
find
it
talk
about
lack
of
transparency.
K
K
K
Sewage,
so
we
pick
up
the
costs
and
we
pay
them
more
money
for
my
taxpayers,
so
we
pay
them
over
50
percent
more
than
we
collect
for
a
seven
year
period
and
we
pick
up
the
cost.
Oh
that's
crazy.
I
mean
that
is
absolutely
crazy.
Talk
about
affecting
the
cash
flow
on
permanent
dollars.
Millages
millage
is
the
most
Dependable
stream
of
Revenue
that
the
city
that
any
municipality
gets
not
just
the
City
of
Charleston.
We
have
a
I'm
prouder
and
we
all
are
of
our
diverse
stream.
K
Accommodations,
Hospitality
business
licensees
parking
fees.
We
saw
what
happened
during
that
pandemic,
those
those
revenues
coming,
but
where
was
The
Millers?
The
millage
was
in
there
just
like
a
rocketship.
Okay,
so-
and
you
know
one
thing
about
Millie's-
it
is
the
most
transparent
form
of
Taxation.
B
A
F
F
You
know
I,
didn't
know
you
know
Adam
and
top
and
bottom
when
I
first
started
with
this
one
I
didn't
know
what
was
going
on.
So
the
past
three
years
have
been
pretty
eye-opening
in
terms
of
you
know
our
budget.
You
know
we
sit
month
after
month
meeting
after
meeting
talking
about
lack
of
services,
whether
it's
our
drainage,
whether
it's
our
trash,
whether
it's
our
Parks
and
Rec,
and
then
here
we
are
again
talking
about
whether
we're
going
to
raise
taxes
and
how
we're
going
to
get
there.
F
I
feel
like
part
of
the
challenge
mayor
and
fellow
council
members
is
the
public
generally
does
not
know
this
information.
When
you
ask
the
average
citizen,
if
their
taxes
are
high,
they're
associating
that
with
some
sort
of
talking
point
that
they're
hearing
from
from
the
national
media
and
really
not
thinking
about
what
what
what
their
taxes
are
like.
So
when
you
add
lost
into
this,
there
is
no
sense
that
they
that
that
money's
coming
back
to
them
and
I
think
city
of
North
Charleston,
rightfully
so
to
Ross's
Point
good
for
them.
F
They
recognize
that
folks
are
probably
not
going
to
even
know
that
they
weren't
getting
lost
back
or
accredited,
so
they
just
use
that
as
as
a
revenue
source.
So
I
guess
the
point
I'm
making
is
it'd
be
nice.
If
we
could
share
this
information
with
the
public
as
best
as
possible,
because
I
think
generally
folks
don't
get
it.
F
F
A
It
doesn't
make
sense
to
me
if,
if
I
may,
in
response,
just
in
in
behalf
of
North
Charleston,
you
know
they're
following
state
law
and
and
the
citizens
there
are
getting
approximately
70
percent
70
Cent
on
the
dollar,
back
from
that
sales,
tax
that
they're
collecting
so
they're,
seeing
a
nice
credit
but
they're
just
utilizing
the
portion
that
state
law
allows
them
to
utilize
for
city
funding.
Just
like
we
take
five
percent
out
of
the
off
the
top
on
the
accommodations.
The
state
allows
that
we
take
it.
A
A
G
G
It
wasn't
that
we
didn't
have
the
funds
okay
in
order
to
deal
with
the
services
Etc
et
cetera,
because
we
did.
The
issue
was
not
having
the
kind
of
Staff
level
okay
necessary
to
carry
out
all
of
those
and
sorry
for
the
phone,
guys,
that's
the
other
phone.
We
just
didn't.
We
just
didn't.
Have
the
the
Staffing
now
I
think
a
part
of
this
budget?
Hopefully,
given
the
kinds
of
pay,
adjustments
that
we
are
are
about
to
make
will
make
a
difference.
G
In
Services
we
were
just
not
competitive,
so
we've
had
an
unbelievable
level
of
of
vacancies
and
as
a
result
of
those
vacancies.
Yes,
we
have
had
some
serious
issues
with
with
with
with
services,
so
hopefully
with
the
kinds
of
things
that
we're
going
to
do
with
this
budget,
making
our
jobs
a
little
more
attractive
making
all
of
our
people
have
a
living
wage,
I'm,
hoping
that
that
would
make
make
a
difference.
J
J
The
citizens
of
Charleston
will
get
a
lost
credit,
even
if
we
max
out
the
amount
we're
allowed
to
take
as
required
by
law.
Okay.
So
this
is
not
a
question
of
the
City
of
Charleston
takes
all
the
legally
available
money
on
the
table
and
the
taxpayers
get
no
tax
relief
from
sales
tax
generated
we're
just
playing
at
that
margin
of
the
percentage.
That's
that's
in
play.
J
The
vast
majority
of
the
money
represented
by
the
lost
credit
goes
to
the
taxpayers,
no
matter
what
we
do
so,
when
you're
looking
at
this
screen-
and
you
look
at
that-
you
know
you
know:
18
million
dollar
figure
on
the
far
left
hand
side,
and
then
you
zoom
all
the
way
over
to
the
other
side
on
the
right.
You
see
that
10
million
dollar
figure,
even
in
the
max
out
scenario,
that
differential
is,
is
what
we're
talking
about
here.
So
I
just
think.
J
That's
a
very
important
Point,
as
we
start
talking
about
the
lost
credit
and
what
we
do
with
it.
The
citizens
of
Charleston
are
going
to
be
the
beneficiary
of
tax
relief
through
the
sales
tax
that's
generated
in
the
city,
regardless
of
what
we
do
we're
just
talking
about
the
magnitude
right
now.
It's
a
total
maxed
out
level.
We're
just
the
question
is
about
here
to
here
not
here
to
here
and
I,
just
wanted
to
Echo
that,
because
I
think
that's
a
very
important
point
right.
F
That
is,
if
you
ask
Council
councilman
Parker
summer
for
constituents,
are,
are
about
to
pull
their
hair
out
about
some
of
the
issues
that
they're
having
or
some
of
my
constituents
regarding
some
of
the
trash
and
and
public
service
issues
say,
if
you
ask
them,
are
you
at
wits
end
with
some
of
these
concerns?
They
would
say
yes,
so
my
point
is
as
councilman
Gregory
we
may
have
had
the
money,
but
I
would
argue
that
we
didn't
because
our
number
one
expense
is
people.
F
So
if
we're
not
paying
people
appropriately
and
allocating
the
Investments,
we
need
for
our
folks,
wouldn't
that
wouldn't
that
create
and
exacerbate
the
problem
that
we're
having
currently,
we've
got
huge
Deltas
between
the
staffing
needs
and
what
we
have
on
staff.
I.
Just
I
feel
like
for
me
that
that's
what
I've
seen
in
my
past
three
years
here
is
just
if
we're
not
competitive,
and
we
can't
get
people
in
the
door,
then
that
directly
has
a
direct,
negative
consequence
on
on
the
services
that
we're
providing
our
citizens.
That's.
F
A
Thank
you
and,
and
that's
the
point
of
this
budget
is
to
adjust
employee
compensation
to
be
more
competitive
in
this
turned
upside
down.
Labor
market
number
one
I
do
want
to
remind
everyone,
just
in
light
of
of
of
this
conversation,
that
the
City
of
Charleston
has
enjoyed
a
triple
a
credit
rating
for
for
many
years,
and
if
you
recall
our
audit
report,
just
a
few
months
ago
was
was
just
glowing
and
our
reserves
put
aside
for
a
rainy
day
are
higher
than
they've
ever
been
in
the
city's
history.
So
financially
financially.
A
We
we
do
struggle
with
with
the
different
funding
sources
and
and
and
how
much
we
have
and
how
we're
allocating
them
and
and
I
think
we're
all
on
a
court
that
we
need
to
allocate
more
to
to
look
after
our
employees
first
and
make
sure
we're
we're,
compensating
them
in
a
in
a
fair
way
and
in
a
competitive
way,
so
that
we
can
maintain
our
staffing
and
maintain
our
services
shade.
Waring
and
Parker.
E
Thank
you,
Mr
Mayor
I
think
that
your
point
that
you're
trying
to
make
I
would
agree
with
that
is
our
constituents.
Our
citizens
are
not
getting
the
full
bang
for
the
buck
that
they
expect
to
receive
for
for
basic
service.
So
that's
that's
just
reality
and
you
can
go
around
the
city
and
see
the
debris
still
lingering
around
in
parts
of
the
of
West
Ashley
I'm
getting
calls
regularly
and
emails
from
folks
who
are
upset
about
us
not
providing
of
adequate
trash
pickup
and
in
debris
pickup.
E
E
Education.
101
folks
is
that
your
property
tax
is
based
on
several
factors:
the
the
appraised
value
of
your
home,
whether
or
not
you
receive
a
residential
four
percent
versus
a
non-residential
residence
of
six
percent
and
then
the
final
factor
is
the
millage,
the
higher
the
millage,
the
higher
your
tax
bill
is,
and
so,
if
you,
the
the
drives
I'm
sorry
the
the
charts
that
Amy
has
put
together
for
us
all.
E
E
So
if
you,
if
you
don't
give
our
property
owners,
our
citizens
who
live
in
their
primary
residence
in
Charleston
100
refund
on
LSC,
you
are
increasing
their
taxes,
twofold
they're,
not
getting
100
back
of
that
of
that
refund
and
the
millage
rate
is
going
to
increase.
So
this
as
you
as
we
play
with
this,
you
had
to
keep
that
in
mind.
E
You're
going
to
be
very
transparent
with
our
constituents
that
we're
we're
proposing
or
if
you
support
or
not
giving
100
back
of
the
LLC
money,
you're
going
to
give
them
a
two-time
tax
increase
on
their
property
Bill
and
that's
something
you've
got
to
take
into
consideration.
Regardless
of
what
we
do
here,
thank
you
Mr
Mayor
thank.
K
Thank
you,
Mr
Smith,
you
said
it
as
I.
Would
you
went
right
to
the
AAA
credit
rating?
So
let's
take
it
a
step
forward.
Doing
well,
I,
guess
a
step
back
with
doing
the
two
years
of
cooling.
We
didn't
furlough
one
employee,
no
Charleston
did
we
didn't
very
low
one
in
as
far
as
on
the
other
side
of
the
covet.
K
K
Now
we
have
had
a
triple
a
credit
rating
for
over
two
decades
over
20
years
around
and
we
have.
We
are
the
sponsor
of
the
debt
for
Charleston
Water
System,
the
City
of
Charleston
birth
Charleston
water
system
maintain
Charleston,
Water
System,
now
they're
independent,
but
when
it
comes
to
them
by
borrowing
their
debt,
they
come
to
us
to
have
it
approved
and
guess
what
they
are.
Triple
A
bit
agreed
entity
only
one
in
the
state,
North
Charleston
doesn't
have
a
water,
a
water
apartment.
K
K
It
is
the
strength
of
the
financial
strength
of
the
City
of
Charleston
for
decades.
It
has
allowed
this
region
and
Fortune
500
companies
to
locate
here.
That
would
have
never
located
here
that
we
simply
didn't
have
water
incidents
and
that
whole
cost
of
water
and
sewage
goes
up
if
our
credit
rating
doesn't
stay
at
Tripoli,
in
particular,
dear
credit
reading,
to
understand
at
Tripoli,
and
how
have
we
done
that
it
was
through
fiscal
management
so
to
say
that
people's
trash
hadn't
been
picked
up
on
time?
Guess
what
North
Charleston,
having
trouble
with
that
too?
K
The
PSD
had
but
look
at
a
little
small
area
that
they
covered.
We
cover
150,
000
people,
so
I
just
think
we
need
to
have
a
global
view
of
what
the
City
of
Charleston
does.
Frankly,
that
is
re
not
only
for
the
citizens.
For
the
region
for
the
for
the
state
and
the
nation,
I
mean
look
at
where
we
ranked
look
at
where
those
areas
Rank
by
the
way
where.
H
K
Rank
we
don't
know
so
I
mean
we
got
people
coming
from
all
over
the
world
to
visit
this
place.
It's
not
because
we're
teetering,
so
we
got
passed
on
to
us.
A
wonderful
Legacy
and
I
got
to
be
frank
when
it
comes
to
defraying,
things
do
change,
but
when
it
comes
to
you
know,
there's
no
such
thing
as
alternative
facts,
although
that
is
out
in
our
election
on
today
nine
times,
nine
is
81..
K
There's
no
alternative
there
two
times
two
is
four:
there's
no
alternative
to
that
thanks,
oh
man,
it's
because
of
our
fiscal
management
and
those
that
pass
those
on
to
us
that
we
we
keep
this
triple
a
credit
rating.
You
know
what
we
need
to
do
frankly
is
some
of
the
monies
that
we'll
do.
One
reason
we
don't
have
much
money
as
much
money
as
we
should
in
stormwater.
K
K
The
town
crying
on
it,
but
hopefully
I,
can
remember
when
mayor
Riley
started
talking
about
a
pedestrian
pathway
on
the
new
Ravenel
Bridge.
What
we
know
is
the
Ravenel
Bridge
and
he
got
poo
pooed
on
it
nobody's
going
to
use
it.
It
costs
an
extra
10
million
dollars
to
do
it.
Who
says
it
was
a
bad
idea
today.
K
Well,
when
it
comes
to
the
City
of
Charleston
collecting
stormwater
fees,
we
need
to
be
proficient
at
and
we're
not
when
it
comes
to
Millie
Street
taxes
that
the
City
of
Charleston
pay
us
to
deliver
service,
we
have
a
runoff
right
now
we
are
supplementing,
you
saw
it
you're
supplementing
and
the
cost
is
higher
than
that.
By
the
way
it
is
far
moving
33
Mills
that
I
talked
about
going
to
the
PSB.
K
It
comes
from
taxpayers
instead
of
coming
to
pay
our
insurance,
it's
going
out
to
them
and
we
are
not
factoring
in
the
cost
that
it
does.
When
those
properties
come
into
the
city,
we
pick
up
the
trash
we
pay
for
the
we
pay
for
the
fire.
We
pay
for
the
recreation,
we're
not
factoring
that
car.
So
when
you
factor
in
that
cost
today,
93
Mills
above
60,
.8,
mils,
suppose
those
dials
were
coming
into
our
Treasury.
K
We
wouldn't
have
to
raise
the
Mills
to
the
level
that
we're
going
to
be
looking
at
doing
to
pay
our
people.
So
if
we
increase
efficiencies,
a
lot
of
the
millage
increases
that
we
may
have
to
consider
and
we
will
have
to
consider
to
be
it
wouldn't
be
as
high,
and
it
will
be
quickly
overcome
by
giving
that
tax
credit
back
to
the
to
the
taxpayers.
So
I
understand
I,
don't
know
that
people
went
over
any
fans
here.
K
We've
had
our
our
talking
at
the
end
of
the
day,
we're
gonna
get
the
vote
on
the
seven
books
is
to
reduce
it.
That'll
happen,
but
I
will
say
this:
don't
do
it
in
a
back
door
way.
Let
the
tax
payers
know
others
don't
do
that.
Don't
do
that
to
the
people
we
our
people
deserve
better
than
if
you're
going
to
raise
people
taxing,
let
them
know
you're
doing.
A
A
C
D
70
because
again,
like
councilmember
Sacrament,
said
if
we're
explaining
this
explain
it
to
me
as
a
homeowner,
and
you
know
that's
what
I'm
asking
so
it's
a
complicated
process,
but
obviously
you
know
I've
explained
millage
rates
and
things
like
that.
But
if
we
can
uncomplicate
it,
so
you
say
about
70,
so
we
collect
it,
we
collect
it
and
by
state
law
we
have
to.
We
have
to
give
70
back.
D
D
So
so
we're
just
basically
looking
at
either
raising
meals,
and
this
is
what
your
your
slide
is
correct.
Amy
I
mean
if
you
raise
Mills
rather
than
the
credit.
If
I
started
it's
a
wash
right.
So
that's
what
we're.
Considering
now
when
I
look
at
the
tax,
credit
and
I
don't
know,
y'all
have
been
doing
this
longer
than
I
have,
but
when
I
look
at
the
tax
credit,
I
can
say
that
I
would
gladly
give
up
that
tax
credit
if
it
meant
those
government
services
were
going
to
be
increased.
You
know
what
I
mean.
D
Just
me,
I,
don't
know
again
where,
where
is
there
an
offset?
Where
does
the
tax
credit?
Let's
does
this
have
to
do
with
our
buckets
Amy
I
mean.
Are
there
certain
items
that
these
this
money,
the
Los
T
funds
can
be
used
for,
cannot
be
used,
for
it
goes
in
the
general
fund,
okay
and
it
can
there's.
There
are
no
limits
there.
No,
okay,
okay,
stormwater
fees,
so
can
real,
quick
just
because
councilmember
Waring
brought
it
up
where
why?
Why
are
we
not
collecting
them?
Where
are
they
going?
What
why
haven't?
A
But
if
you
don't
pay
your
property
tax,
you
run
into
some
real
consequences
from
not
paying
your
property
tax
bill,
so
you're
more
likely
to
collect
the
full
amount
from
everybody
if
you
put
it
on
the
property
tax
bill
rather
than
the
the
water
bill.
Of
course
you
know
that
adds
to
that
annual
payment
that
people
don't
like
to
write
that
big
check
once
a
year.
It
adds
to
that
versus
spreading
it
out,
but
you
pick
up
some
some
collections
along.
The
way
is
the
point.
D
Okay,
thank
you,
and
it
also
I
mean
we're
basically
putting
all
you
know
all
of
our
storm
water
and
infrastructure.
You
know
that
that
fee
that
could
help
us
right,
council,
member
wearing
on
the
property
owner.
You
know,
whereas
I
guess
the
the
other
thinking.
The
other
way
of
thinking
is
that
if
it's
on
the
water
bill,
you
know
the
folks
living
here.
A
No
problem
we're
all
figuring
this
out.
It's
some
of
it's
pretty
complicated,
so
Amy.
If
you
don't
mind
kind
of
trying
to
finish
up
on
the
the
options
that
that
we
had
discussed
and
and
it's
it's
all
along
the
same
lines
of
of
what
we've
been
talking
about
for
the
last
half
hour.
But
it
puts
it
to
you
on
a
couple
of
different
options
and
maybe
makes
it
a
little
clearer
what
decision
we
may
end
up
with
here.
C
Yes,
mayor
too,
so
our
because
of
our
population,
all
that
our
percentages
between
rollback
and
revenue
are
more
equal.
So
it's
really
like
52.54
that
so
just
so
you
know
it's
a
it's
a
little
bit
different
than
the
70
which
that's
what
goes
back
to
this
state,
but
let's
not
get
all
into
all
that.
So.
D
C
About
50
50
really
sort
of
anyway,
so
if
we,
if
we
were
to
give
back,
obviously
we
have
to
do
the
rollback
on
the
revenue
fund.
If
we
were
to
give
back
75
of
the
revenue
fund,
it
would
be
an
additional
3.7
million
dollars
in
Revenue
to
the
city,
and
this
right
here,
the
equivalent
equivalent
millage
reduction.
That's
how
much
it
would
still
reduce
our
taxpayers.
Millage.
C
C
C
C
D
Thank
you
Mr
Mayor
quickly,
so
if
any
of
these-
let's,
let's
just
say
for
example,
if
we
took
away
if
we
reduced
the
amount
of
the
credit,
can
we
as
a
city
are
we
able
to
say,
can
you
go
back
to
that
last
two
slides
back,
please
so
total
additional
Revenue
to
the
city
I
mean
if
we,
if
we
choose
these
options,
if
we,
if
we
eliminate
a
certain
percentage
of
the
tax
credit,
can
we
say
that
we're
putting
the
that
those
funds
into
the
storm
water
fund?
No.
D
So
the
water
is
a
totally
different
budget
again
well,
I
can
I
mean
I'm
just
going
I'm
asking
questions
and
I'm
going
back
to
kind
of
council
member
sacraments
point
we're
going
to
do
something.
Taxpayers
need
to
understand
it
so
I,
certainly
as
a
tax
paying
citizen
want
to
know
where
the
additional
Revenue
to
the
city
is
going
so
I'm
curious.
Now,
as
a
council
member,
if
we
have
a
credit
decrease,
if
we
have
a
credit
decrease,
where
is
that
fund
just
goes
right
to
the
general
fund
and
we.
C
D
When
we
use
it
or
can
we
is
there
a
way
to
earmark
it
or
utilize
it
for
something
else,
I
mean
I,
know.
We've
talked
about
referendums
and
things
like
that.
That's
not
this.
You
know
that's
where
we're
earmarking
funds,
but
again,
that's
just
my
question:
can
we
if
we
did
something
like
this,
can
we
do
that.
A
A
A
D
C
All
right,
the
7.8
million
dollar
deficit-
if
you
want
to
call
it
that,
because
we
don't
really
have
a
budget
to
have
a
deficit,
but
that's
what
it
is
right
now
that
would
help
fund
that.
So
we
can
balance
the
budget
because
we
have
to
have
a
balanced
budget.
So
that's
what
that
would
go
towards.
Okay!
Thank
you
sure.
C
C
So
scenario,
some
of
the
things
that
we
talked
about
in
ad
hoc
yesterday
was
just
a
straight
millage
increase
increase
of
five
wheel.
Mills
sorry
would
yield
an
8.5
million
dollars
in
additional
tax
revenue,
and
so
we
would
have
no.
We
would
have
more
than
we
needed
to
balance
a
budget,
so
we
could
actually
fund
on
some
more
items
that
we're
not
able
to
fund
four
Mills
would
be
6.8
and
we'd
still
need
to
cut
about
one
million
dollars
from
the
budget,
no
avail
to
increase,
but
just
changing
our
local
option.
C
Sales
tax
policy
and
keeping
50
of
the
revenue
fund
would
yield
7.4
million.
So
we'd
still
need
to
cut
about
four
hundred
thousand
dollars
in
expenditures
from
the
recommended
items
that
we
had
and
then
increasing
the
millage
by
three
meals
and
keeping
25
percent
of
low
cost
in
sales.
Tax
revenue
would
yield.
8.8
no
Cuts
would
be
necessary
and
we
would
be
able
to
fund
about
additional
one
million
dollars
in
expenditures.
C
Effect
on
the
taxpayer,
so
the
five
mil
increase
it
would
be
about
a
100
tax
increase
to
a
four
percent
homeowner
and
150
on
the
six
percent
property
owner.
Four
Mills
would
be
80
and
120
dollars
for
no
millage
increase,
but
keeping
fifty
percent
of
local
sales
tax
property
owner
owners.
Tax
bill
would
increase
one
hundred
and
eleven
dollars,
and
twenty
four
cents
for
Charleston
County
and
51.74
in
Berkeley
County
and
then
three
meals
and
keeping
25
percent
four
percent
property
on
there
would
be
115.62
six
percent
145.62
in
Berkeley
County.
C
And
then
just
to
show
you
the
effect
on
property
tax
revenue,
our
current
budget
right
now,
it's
property
taxes
is
43.26
percent
of
our
budget,
our
Revenue
budget.
We
raise
that
for
scenario.
Two,
our
property
tax
percentage
of
Revenue
would
be.
It
would
be
45
of
our
total
revenues
and
then
44.14
for
scenario,
three,
which
was
25
of
the
local
option:
sales
tax,
Revenue.
K
E
E
A
E
K
K
H
F
K
D
C
A
But
but
let
me
just
share
that
it's
it's
a
sales
tax.
It's
been
collected
in
our
County
for
for
decades
now,
so
so
folks
are
paying
sales
tax
in
the
City
of
Charleston,
both
our
residents
and
our
visitors
and
so
in
a
way
I
I
like
to
mentally
think
that
by
using
some
of
the
Los
t
for
city
services
that
we're
we're
we're
capitalizing
or
using
the
some
of
those
sales
tax
dollars
that
are
spent
by
the
many
visitors
that
we
have
in
Charleston
and
I
I
kind
of
think.
A
That's
a
good
thing.
You
know
what!
Even
if
you
used
50
percent
of
our
available
credit,
which
is
only
a
portion
of
of
what
by
law,
gets
credited
to
to
Property
Owners.
Even
if
you
just
use
that
that
portion
of
it,
it
would
generate
enough
nearly
to
cover
the
shortfall,
we're
looking
for
I'll
remind
everyone.
It's
it's
illegal.
It's
authorized
by
the
state
legislature
by
the
state
government,
just
like,
as
I
mentioned
before,
we
take
five
percent
of
Hospitality
accommodations
taxes
and
put
it
to
our
general
fund.
A
Cities
and
towns
are
allowed
to
do
this.
Mount
Pleasant
and
North
Charleston
both
do
it
I
think
by
as
I
mentioned
earlier,
to
to
remain
competitive.
To
have
that
funding
source
is,
is
a
good
thing
for
our
city,
long
term
for
future
Mayors
and
City
councils
to
have
that
resource
that
funding
source
that
will
add
to
that
pie.
Chart
that
Amy
just
showed
us
a
minute
ago,
so
showing
all
the
different
sources
that
we
have
to
rely
on
to
provide
the
services
to
our
citizens.
I
I'm,
again
again,
it's
it's
a
little
bit.
A
I
can't
remember
wearing
like
two
sides
of
the
same
coin,
I,
admit
and
and
I
I
think
it
all
works
out
in
the
end
and
I
respect
council's
decision,
which
way
you
want
to
go
in
order
to
fund
this
important
employee
compensation
package
that
we're
recommending,
but
but
I,
do
think
long
term
to
fund
municipal
government
requires
multiple
funding
streams.
This
is
one
tool
we
could
have
in
our
toolbox,
not
just
this
year,
but
in
the
future.
A
The
Fairly
compensate
our
public
servants,
our
police
fire
and
our
non-sworn
employees
all
the
way
down
to
the
folks,
as
mentioned
that,
to
collect
our
garbage
and
and
clean
our
ditches
and
to
provide
the
kinds
of
services
that
we
need
to
other
towns
around
us.
Do
it
I
think
part
of
what
led
us
to
this
competitive
disadvantage
was
the
fact
that
we
weren't
relying
on
this
funding
source
to
be
a
part
of
our
budget,
so
also
it
depends
a
little
bit
on
our
sales
tax.
A
Already
Amy
said
earlier
that
we're
projecting
more
Los
t
for
22
than
we
originally
budgeted.
I
think
the
original
budget
amount
was
23
million,
seven
hundred
and
twenty
thousand.
We
we
now
believe
it'll
be
more
like
28
000.
Well.
I
would
make
the
case
to
you
that,
even
if
you
use
15
of
that
to
fund
general
fund
to
fund
these
important
things
that
we're
wanting
to
fund
of
that
15
reduction
and
off
of
of
the
2023
proposed
budget
would
be
still
more
of
a
credit
than
what
we
originally
budgeted
in
2022.
A
85
percent
of
our
23
projected
Los
T
credit
of
28
million
365
000
is
in
fact
24
million
one
hundred
and
ten
thousand
two
hundred
fifty
dollars,
which
is
more
than
what
we
budgeted
to
be
able
to
Credit
in
19
in
2022.
Rather
so
it
adds
a
funding
source
for
us.
It
allows
us
to
take
care
of
the
needs
for
this
year
without
having
a
millage
increase.
A
I'll
I'll
now
be
quiet
and
I
respect
the
will
of
council
to
to
make
a
motion,
and
maybe
y'all
could
just
could.
Could
we
just
indicate
by
a
vote
or
show
of
hands
whether
you
want
to
use
LS,
Los
t
or
not?
And
if
you
don't
I
get
the
message
and
I'll
I'll
propose
the
budget
to
you.
Accordingly,
I
propose
that
we
use
it
pretty
cool
councilmember,
Bowden.
I
K
I'm
wearing
thank
you.
Mr
Mayor,
five
mils
balance
the
budgets.
This
is
more
a
question
for
you.
You
want
to
balance
it
using
lost
Revenue.
It
gets
balanced
with
five
meals.
What
ditches
doesn't
get
clean
with
employees
doesn't
get
paid
if
you
use
the
five
mils.
In
other
words,
the
budget
is
balanced
either
way
you.
K
So
what
is
it
I'm
really
trying
to
find
out
something
I'm
missing
in
your
Expedition?
If
the
balance
is
if
the
budget
is
balanced
with
five
meals,
what
is
it
that
doesn't
get
done?
Maybe
that
maybe
that's
the
way
I
should
ask
it.
What
doesn't
get
done
with
the
balanced
budget,
with
five
meals
that
will
get
done
if
we
use
lost
Revenue.
A
It
it
all
gets
paid,
but
Amy.
If
you
go
back
to
one
of
those
pie,
charts
I
I
just
would
use
the
example
of
the
diversity
of
funding
sources
that,
for
the
long-term
benefit
of
the
City
of
Charleston,
to
be
able
to
conduct
business
and
provide
services.
I
feel
it
would
be
in
our
best
interest
to
have
as
diverse
a
toolbox
of
funding
sources
and
revenues
as
possible.
A
This
is
a
legal
way
for
us
to
fund
our
city,
government
and
I
think
we
ought
to
add
it
to
the
toolbox
long
term,
not
just
for
this
year,
but
for
future
Mayors
and
City
councils
to
have
it
as
it
at
their
disposal.
So
I
guess,
like
I,
said
it's
two
sides
of
the
same
coin:
for
balancing
this
year's
budget,
you
can
do
it
through
five
meals
or
you
can
do
it
through
fifty
percent
of
the
lost
credit
it.
It
works
out
the
same,
but
I
think
for
the
long
term.
This.
K
Person
but
Mr
Mayor
that
you,
you
said
that
the
second
time
you
said
it's
a
legal
way
to
do
it
and
we
we
all
understand
that.
But
so
is
the
military.
It's
legal,
also
yeah.
It
is
the
most
transparent
and
I'll
say
this
and
I
think
we
all
came
extremely
close.
Those
of
us
who
were
here
doing
the
pandemic.
K
K
We
actually
took
out
the
pencil
and
we
cut
and
that's
how
we
balance
the
budget.
But
if
we
didn't
get
to
enough
cuts,
we
were
not
going
to
furlough
people.
We
would
have
used
the
Lost
River.
Now
that's
a
situation
where,
under
extreme
emergencies
like
a
pandemic,
you
still
have
that
in
the
tuba,
but
doing
the
best
of
times
right
now
our
revenues
are
the
most
they've
ever
been
in
the
history
of
the
City
of
Charleston.
This
is
the
time
you're
going
to
go
to
that
versus
having
it
in
reserve
for
emergencies.
K
D
Thank
you,
Mr
Mayor,
I,
just
still
I'll
just
say
this
I'll
be
honest
and
I
know
it's
getting
late.
I
just
worry,
you
know,
raising
taxes
are
that's
not
going
to
guarantee
us
more
employees,
you
know,
but
obviously
this
is
a
tool
in
the
toolbox.
You
know
I
understand
that,
but
we're
gonna
raise
taxes
and-
and
we
don't
know
if
services
will
get
better,
we
hope
right.
We
can.
We
can
be
optimistic,
but
anyway,
Amy
I
should
have
asked
this
earlier.
I
mean,
are
there
more
slides
coming?
D
A
D
C
D
J
B
J
J
J
It's
a
it's
a
function
of
sales
tax,
there's
a
potential
here
that
if
we
roll
back
the
loss,
we're
not
going
to
have
to
talk
about
millage
again
next
year
and
the
year
after
and
the
year
after
in
the
year
after
it
puts
us
on
a
more
firm
Financial
splitting
by
this
alternative,
Revenue
Source,
that's
not
the
same
as
millage.
So
while
it's
true
this
year,
if
you
just
take
a
snapshot
of
this
upcoming
budget,
50
rollback
of
lost
five
mil
increase,
it's
it's
two
sides
of
the
same
coin.
J
So
that's
what
I
think
the
distinction
is
here:
it's
about
putting
the
city
on
a
more
firm
Financial
footing
prospectively,
so
we
don't
have
to
have
so
many
of
these
yearly
discussions
about
tax
increases
and
in
terms
of
the
transparency
point
I
would
just
say
it's
very
easy
to
communicate
this
at
a
high
level.
The
alternative
is
a
big
tax
increase,
that's
door
number
one
and
then
door
number
two
is
we're
just
incrementally
reducing
the
amount
of
the
tax
credit
you're
getting
I
mean
we
could
be
transparent
in
both
in
both
Realms.
J
The
lost
credit
is
something
that
is
authorized
by
law
for
us
to
roll
back
and
and
I
think
we
can
be
very
upfront
and
and
direct
with
our
taxpayers.
If
we
decide
to
go
in
that
direction,
I'm
very
open
to
the
Lost,
rollback
and
I
I
think
we've
got
time
between
now
and
finalizing
the
budget
to
take
a
closer
look
at
some
of
these
additional
expenses.
J
I
would
agree
with
my
colleague,
councilman
Gregory
that
we
put
the
pay
increases
in
in
a
lock
box
to
use
a
Al
Gore
term,
let's
not
play
with
that.
Let
we
need
to
raise
pay
for
our
employees,
but
if
there's
something
that
the
IT
department
has
asked
for,
that
can
wait
another
year.
Let's
have
that
discussion
between
now
and
the
finalization
of
the
budget
and
we'll
get
there
thanks.
A
A
G
G
What
ultimately
will
happen
with
the
economy
in
terms
of
a
Slowdown
I
would
prefer
to
leave
the
loss
in
reserve
so
to
speak,
just
in
case
for
us
to
start
now
just
routinely
utilizing
those
funds
to
me,
it's
not
sound
financial
management,
at
least
in
my
that's
just
my
opinion.
If
we
can
get
to
where
we
need
to
get
to
with
5
mil
Plus
you'll
will
be
able
to
balance
our
budget
and
still
have
a
few
dollars
left
for
for
other
things.
G
G
That's
not
something
that
I
think
that
we
should
do
either,
because
our
departments
have
been
suffering
over
the
years
and
what
they're,
what
we're
really
doing
is
trying
to
to
to
catch
catch
them
up.
I
think
the
five
mil
increase
is
cleaner
and
the
way
to
go.
We
leave
our
loss,
okay,
where
it
is
until
we
needed
it
and
I.
Think
the
council
member
Waring
brought
it
up.
I
mean
I,
was
totally
against.
G
E
That's
just
a
bottom
line
problem
and
you're
also
increasing
the
taxes,
two
ways
you
are
reducing
the
amount
of
the
refund
and
you're
hurting
the
millage
that
benefit
that
that
we're
getting
we
just
heard
over
and
over
again,
even
with
a
three
mil
increase.
I
know
what
y'all
my
colleagues
to
hear
this,
even
with
a
three
mil
increase
by
giving
a
hundred
percent
of
that
Los
T
refund
our
millage
went
down
and
the
millage
is
an
important
factor
that
is
used
to
determine
a
person's
property
tax
bill.
E
E
So
the
reason
that
we
have
problems
with
basic
Services
is
not
because
we're
not
giving
withholding
100
of
the
refund
of
lost
money.
That's
not
the
cause
of
all
that
the
cause
of
all
that
is
that
we
just
have
not
kept
up
with
the
pay
increases
that
we
needed
to
do
to
keep
our
employees
so
whether
or
not
the
lost
money
100
of
that
was
refunded
or
75
of
that
was
refunded.
E
Now
25
of
that
was
refunded,
had
no
bearing
whatsoever
had
no
bearing
whatsoever
on
our
trash
being
picked
up
and
not
being
picked
up
on
a
timely
basis
and
to
suggest
otherwise.
If
someone
was
leading
to
the
people
listening
on
to
this
this
conversation,
so
we
have
other
mechanisms,
councilmember
Gregory
pointed
them
all
out.
We
have
other
mechanisms
on
how
to
balance
this
budget.
You
can
do
a
millage
increase.
That's
one
way
of
doing
it.
E
You
do
a
millage
increase
of
three
of
three
meals
or
you
can
do
the
increase
of
five
meals
or
you
can
do
a
combination
of
three
meals
and
finding
ways
to
reduce
those
expenditures
by
2.7
million
dollars
by
cutting
out
some
stuff.
So
we
have
other
options
available
to
us,
but
I
think
that
we're
hurting
ourselves
and
we're
hurting
our
taxpayers
if
we
don't
give
them
100
of
that
tax
refund
I'm
not
going
to
vote
for
it,
I'm
not
going
to
support
it.
E
K
You
know
and
Catherine
Gregory
said
it,
but
they
councilmember
Pell.
There
is
not
an
economist
what
they
saw
in
the
country.
That
would
say
sales
tax
is
most
stable
than
property
tax
seriously.
It
is
not,
and
now
you
may
find
one
that
doesn't
have
that
may
be
teaching
at
it.
Unaccredited
college
or
something
like
that.
But
there's
not
an
economist
in
the
country
that
we'll
see
sales
tax
is
most
stable
than
that
they're
probably
say
that's
because
of
of
so
I'm
gonna
I'm
gonna
give
you
a
mulligan.
K
K
K
F
A
A
A
So
can
I
just
ask
for
consensus
with
a
raise
of
hands
and
and
I
already
know.
Clearly,
councilmember
shade,
Waring
and
Gregory
have
all
said:
they'd
prefer
a
millage
as
opposed
to
monkeying
with
the
Los
T,
who
all
would
like
to
see
just
admitting
that
we
can
look
at
the
expenses
a
little
some
more
and
and
we
can,
we
can
cut
some
of
those
expenses
potentially
after
we
all
review
those
one
more
time,
but
who
would
prefer
to
use
a
millage
rate
to
balance
a
budget
at
the
end
of
the
day.
A
A
A
K
A
A
A
G
A
A
A
Okay,
and
that
would
be
you
and
Jade
and
and
Mitchell
and
Brady
and
Waring
and
Kevin
all
right
I
will
come
back
to
y'all
with
a
proposed
budget
that
will
do
just
that.
We'll
look
at
the
I
do
want
you
all
to
look
at
the
a
list:
the
master
request
list
of
the
other
expenses,
not
the
the
payroll
compensation
adjustment,
but
the
other
items
and
and
y'all.
Let
us
know
back
anything
that
sticks
out
to
you
and
otherwise
we'll
come
back
to
you
with
a
proposed
budget
that
that's
balanced
and.
C
A
A
A
K
A
K
A
D
D
H
A
H
And
that
was
my
dilemma
on
this
all
together,
when
I
raised
my
taxes,
but
I
know
we
have
to
do
it.
The
same
thing,
I'm
working
in
my
church,
the
same
way
I
had
to
renovate
my
church
to
have
to
go
back
and
get
money
for
it
and
I
didn't
want
to
do
that
either.
But
I
didn't
have
a
choice
you
see
and
since
I'm
the
head
trustees
in
the
church.
H
So
it's
it's
a
thing
when
they
come
to
raising
taxes
is
something
always
good
to
me
with
that,
with
raising
taxes
so
much
on
the
people
and
the
way
the
economy
is
Now
with.
We
don't
even
have
a
job
making
the
money
here,
even
the
paper
we
have
to
pay
now,
since
the
escalating
and
rents
is
coming
coming
up
and
basically
have
so
much
other
things
are
coming
up
with
people
and
I
just
had
a
problem
with
the
raising
taxes.
H
That's
why
I
looked
at
the
right
at
the
8.5,
but
coming
back
down
to
the
6.8,
which
is
the
full
meals
and
I
said
well,
instead
of
getting
to
the
higher
when
I
go
to
the
middle
one,
which
is
the
lowest
one
and
voted
on
that,
but
I
just
always
had
reservation
and
the
reason
of
taxes.
I
know
we
have
to
do
something,
but
anytime
I
get
to
the
point
of
raising
taxes.
H
So
that
was
my
take
on
it
and
looking
at
it,
the
budget
and
looking
at
the
budgets
for
the
past,
almost
16
years
longer
than
that
since
I
was
here
yeah,
and
that
was
my
dilemma
and
that's
why
I
wasn't
saying
nothing
before
and
listening
to
all
the
comments
and
listening
to
all
the
seeing
all
the
slides
that
Amy
did
when
she
did
a
marvelous
job,
but
she
always
does
you
know,
but
I
just
had
my
dilemma.
My
my
problem
on
it
and
I
know
we
need
it
to.
A
H
Raises
I
know
what
North
Charleston
did.
I
was
working
with
some
of
the
people
in
North
Charleston
when
it
happened
to
them.
They
laid
off
over
over
200
and
some
more
people
during
that
time
and
they
was
getting
the
money
and
they
still
laid
them
off,
but
they
got
to
remember
that
in
the
City
of
Charleston
be
a
little
different
from
North
Charleston,
because
North
Charleston
have
all
these
big
plans
to
go
the
tax
revenues
from
like
the
Boeing
client
different
different
companies.
H
They
have
up
there,
the
aviation
Authority,
you
know
the
airport
and
all
these
other
things
we
don't
have
that
in
the
City
of
Charleston
and
I
was
based
a
lot
on
tourism,
and
things
like
that
and
tourism
is
down.
Then
our
money
is
down
very
down.
This.
That's
what's
happening
even
with
covert.
They
didn't
take
any
money
out.
The
garage
just
didn't
make
any
money
off
this
and
that
so
that
put
us
in
a
dilemma,
but
we
still
didn't
laid
off
people.
We
went
and
bar
against
our
Reserve.
H
But
you
know
I
know
we
have
to
do
something,
and
we
have
to
look
at
it
very
seriously
because
we're
going
to
need
to
balance
this
budget
and
I
just
got
to
pondered
on
some
more
but
I
just
put
it
on
that
particular
one,
because
I
figured
that
was
the
less
of
the
two
and
I'm
just
going
to
ponder
it
on
this.
Some
more
thank.
A
You
well
I
appreciate
that
and
if
there's
any
relief
to
that
heartburn,
it's
in
that
one
chart
that
councilmember
Waring
points
out
that
our
net
taxes
are
less
than
they
were
in
2009
to
to
to
his
Point
again
that
you
know
we,
we
return
all
the
local
option
of
sales
tax
to
our
taxpayers.
So
that's
the
net
effect
over
time.
You
hadn't,
really
increased
taxes.
In
fact,
it's
gone
down
a
little
bit
since
2009,
but
the
way
all
this
plays
out
as
I
said,
is
two
sides
of
a
coin.
A
You
you
raise
the
millage
a
little
bit
and
then
the
credit
equalizes
over
time
and
and
that
we've
actually
gone
down
a
little
bit
over
time.
You
just
if,
if
somebody
complains
to
you,
you
might
have
to
call
on
council
member
Waring
to
help
explain
all
that
all
right
anything
else
for
the
good
of
the
order.
Thank
you
for
the
long
meeting
y'all.
Thank
you
Amy.
Thank
you.
Everybody
thank.