►
Description
City of Charleston Ways & Means Meeting - December 4, 2018
B
Thank
You
charlie
father,
as
we
come
before
you,
we
ask
for
our
best
decorum
and
our
best
intellect
to
be
applied
today,
as
we
go
about
sorting
out
the
income
and
expenses
for
the
city
of
Charleston
for
the
upcoming
year
2019.
We
pay
for
leadership
of
our
country,
pre-filed
president,
and
we
give
heartfelt
condolences
to
the
Bush
family
and
all
the
leadership.
Then
he,
his
wife,
his
sons
and
family,
has
brought
to
this
country
shouldn't.
Let
that
go
mindful,
and
we
appreciate
the
country
taking
the
pause
in
pain,
just
respect.
B
We
pray
for
our
mayor
and
his
family,
who
recently
lost
a
mother
and
all
of
us
who
have
experienced
that
knows,
there's
nothing
easy
about
that,
but
be
with
them
doing
their
time
of
need.
We
pray
for
our
staff
because
they're
second
to
none.
We
don't
get
ranked
in
all
these
fine
magazines
that
our
friends
tell
us
about
near
far
without
the
people.
A
lot
of
times
face
is
on
the
front
page,
but
if
they
didn't
show
up
our
city
with
almost
closed
down,
we
pray
for
our
military
will
in
harm's
way,
keeping
us
safe.
B
A
A
C
E
E
D
E
D
D
G
Else:
okay,
before
we
move
forward,
okay,
the
committee's
recommendation,
if
I'm
not
mistaken
for
southeast
and
Wildlife,
was
not
165,
it
was
the
staffs
recommendation
so
there
and
it's
my
understanding
that
when
this
document
went
through
the
ad
hoc
Budget
Committee,
there
were
recommendations
for
increases
okay.
So
what
we
have
here
is
the
record
not
only
the
recommendations
from
the
committee,
but
also
amendments
from
the
ad
hoc
committee,
and
it
would
be
great
if
the
budget
staff
can
tell
us
the
distinction
between
two.
H
E
G
G
E
E
G
E
E
J
G
H
H
H
K
E
A
B
A
B
We
could
mr.
mee,
if
we
could
pass
this
and
get
together
on
these
little
changes,
most
of
them
nuances
and
then
bring
it
back
on
the
18th.
Well,
that.
A
B
B
J
Right
so,
what's
on
the
floor
right
now,
it's
aquarium
and
the
Gibbs
that's
right!
Okay
and
can
I
just
add
one
more
then
and
we'll
come
back
to
the
others,
and
it's
just
because
our
Hanukkah
celebration
is
this
weekend
and
admittedly
they
were
late,
so
I
did
want
to
add
them
back
again.
It
would
be
nice
to
be
able
to.
Let
them
know
that
this
weekend,
while
we're
having
the
festival,
and
so
we
were
going
to
ask
that
they
be
restored
two
to
five
thousand
dollars.
L
J
A
If
those
amendment
that
right
all
right
any
other
discussion,
all
those
in
favor
signify
by
saying
aye
those
opposed
now,
let's
have
it
item.
4
is
hospitality
budget
and
if
it's--if
will
council,
we
can
also
take
both
of
those
that's
an
amended
18
hospitality
as
well
as
a
proposed
19
hospitality
fee
budget.
Is
there
motion
for
approval?
These
guys
can.
M
M
And
let
me
explain
why
we're
doing
that
city
has
been
approached
by
the
organization
called
OC
sports
OC
sports
owns
a
transatlantic
race.
This
is
a
sailboat
race
and
the
on
the
same
lines
that
we
may
think
about
as
the
race
alone
that
we
had
many
years
ago
in
Charleston.
This
is
a
point-to-point
race.
He
will
leave
from
Plymouth
England
to
Charleston
South
Carolina.
M
M
That
will
take
part
in
two
that
will
arrive
in
May
of
2020s
like
a
seven
to
ten
day.
Voyage
would
be
a
staggered
finish.
This
is
on
the
heels
of
the
announcement
of
British
Airways
having
flights
from
London
to
Charleston
direct
flights
from
London
to
Charleston
that
this
will
put
the
celebration
on
on
the
bat.
That's
what
we're
doing
in
Charleston.
M
Their
initial
commitment
from
us
or
request
of
us
is
$150,000.
However,
we're
allowed
to
number
working
on
the
contract
with
this
noun
to
have
that
an
in-kind
kind
of
sponsorship.
So
what
they're
looking
for
is
our
use
of
the
facilities
in
Charleston
to
help
sponsor
this
race
divide,
lack
of
a
better
word,
a
landing
zone
for
these
votes
to
come
in
for
us
to
host
the
the
finish
line
of
this
transatlantic
I.
M
G
Council
gregor's,
can
we
take
the
same
approach
on
this
one
as
we
did
on
the
accommodation,
because
there
are
there
some
other
recommendations
here.
That
I
would
like
to
shift
more
specifically,
as
we
look
at
the
amount
of
funds
that
we're
giving
to
the
visitors
center,
both
in
accommodation
and
hospitality.
G
E
G
D
German
and
with
all
due
respect
to
my
colleague
to
my
left
to
the
wise
man-
and
it's
done
lots
of
good
work
boy
sit
sir
I'd
like
to
think
about
this
too,
because
these
are
funds
that
can
be
used
for
a
number
of
different
things,
as
opposed
to
the
state
accommodations
tax,
which
is
much
more
formulaic.
And
if
you
look
through
both
our
2018
and
2019
budget,
we
put
these
monies
towards
infrastructure,
which
is
greatly
needed
in
the
city
on
both
sides
of
the
river
and
the
idea
that
we're
gonna
go
fund.
D
A
bunch
of
people
coming
across
water
before
we
start
addressing
getting
rid
of
water
makes
me
a
little
nervous,
so
I
just
want
to
make
sure
that
we're
not
losing
an
opportunity
to
do
some
infrastructure
and
flooding
relief
in
exchange
for
something
that
may
or
may
not
be
a
great
advent
of
great
advantage
to
us,
especially
with
the
use
of
these
funds,
which
can
be
used
for
infrastructure.
So,
let's
talk
to
more
about
it.
Let's
take
a
look.
What
that's
all
about
see
how
this
all
comes,
I,
sort
of
like
the
wait
on
that
too.
D
A
A
B
You
I
hadn't
even
raised
my
hand,
yet
I
knew
he
was
coming
again.
I
agree
with
councilmember
Gregory,
it
gonna
be
some
nuances
hands.
We
could
decide
meet
between
now
and
then
and
and
1/18
and
have
those
changes.
That's
the
first
time
I
heard
about
this
150,000
and
50,000
councilman's
first-timer.
They
so
and
I
agree
with
Councilman
seeking
what
I
mean.
H
H
J
I,
second,
it
so
we
could
at
least
discuss
the
matter,
and
perhaps
councilmember
Shea
would
agree
to
wait
until
we
get
a
little
more
information.
That's
fine
about
this
and
come
back
to
you.
I
will
share
that
and
I
apologize
in
the
sense
that
I
happen
to
also
have
been
briefed
on
this
potential
event
for
Charleston,
which,
during
our
three
hundred
and
fiftieth
year
anniversary,
we
do
want
to
do
some
special
things
and
so
we'll
get
that
information
out
to
everyone.
I
think
this
might
be
a
worthwhile
pursuit,
I'm.
E
H
E
I'm,
just
saying
we
need
to
get
a
budget
is
what
I'm
saying
basically
and
we
can't
mess
with
the
transfer
in
on
the
hospitality
fund
budget.
So
Susan
tells
me
as
long
as
we
get
the
budget
approved
next
week
with
the
second
and
third
reading
of
the
general
fund
budget.
We
should
be
fine,
but
I
just
wanted
to
make
sure
everybody
understood
that.
G
M
N
New
persons,
the
DS
different
amendments
candidate,
meet
next
Lisa
so
because
you're
really
pushing
in
we
get
the
final
draft
of
the
budget
together
and
then
after
we
have
to
present
it
budget
to
us
on
18.
So
we
wouldn't
want
to
be
here
discussing
amendments
and
all
that
all
night
long,
so
they
need
to
meet
with
we're
and
staff
to
see
if
it's
possible
to
do
these
amends
hopefully
next
week
well
sometime
later
this
week,
so
we
could
be
ready
for
the
18
and.
G
A
H
O
C
You
have
any
comments,
mr.
I
think
I
think
we
just
need
to
wait
until
the
1800s
and
I
think
we
need
to
wait
to
the
18th
and
approve
everything
at
one
time
bo.
We
are
changing
and
changing
and
changing
and
changing
everything,
but
we
need
to
make
sure
that
our
finest
director
here
knows
exactly
what
we're
doing
so.
You
all
need
to
get
with
them,
and
so
we
can
do
this,
but
we
can't.
A
C
N
P
F
E
A
Right
all
right,
any
further
discussion
hearing,
none
all
those
in
favor
signify
by
saying
aye;
those
opposed
no
I
haven't
item
5
as
municipal
accommodations
fee,
ordinance,
capital
projects
and
operating
expenses.
Their
motion.
Thank
you
all
right.
Any
discussion,
all
those
in
favor
signify
by
saying
aye
those
opposed
yeah
I,
just
have
it
item.
6
is
a
2019
general
fund.
C
K
J
F
J
J
Mostly
for
putting
up
with
up
thank
you
and
I
want
to
thank
once
again
the
Budget
Committee
and
in
the
Budget
Committee
process.
I
feel
like
it
really
was
the
most
transparent
and
participatory
budget
process
that
we've
seen
in
the
city
and
everybody's
analysis
and
input,
particularly
when
we
did
the
departmental
budgets
was
detailed,
as
this
council
has
ever
seen.
J
So,
despite
all
that
and
again,
this
is
a
tribute
to
our
staff,
but
also
to
our
council,
we've
recently
gotten
ratings
from
both
standard
and
poor
and
Moody's.
We
have
triple-a
credit
ratings
from
both
of
those
rating
agencies
and
and
I'll
point
out
a
quote
from
from
standard
report
that
maybe
maybe
this
isn't
that
hard
to
believe
with
deficit
spending
that
we
see
at
the
federal
level,
but
quote
the
city
can
maintain
better
credit
characteristics
than
the
United
States
government
in
a
stress
scenario.
D
A
J
Dan/Erin
board
gives
us
better
credit
rating
than
in
the
federal
government.
I
feel
that's
pretty
nice.
So,
on
the
revenue
side,
we
do
have
a
diverse
funding
stream.
I
know
there's
a
lot
of
focus
on
property
taxes
and
there
should
be,
but
most
folks,
don't
know
that
only
accounts
for
forty
five
percent
of
our
funding
for
the
city,
charleston
general
fund
budget.
We
we
have
developed
over
time
as
state
law,
allows
a
pretty
diverse
funding
stream
and
with
the
effect
of
Local
Option
Sales
Tax,
which
this
city
to
the
extent
allowed
by
law,
fully
rebates.
J
So
to
speak,
to
our
property
tax
payers,
our
homeowner
there's,
there's
actually
a
reduction
year
to
year
of
the
net
millage,
because
we're
getting
credits
for
a
sales
tax
revenue,
that's
being
credited
to
your
property
tax
bill.
Not
a
lot
of
folks
know
that.
But
if
you
look
at
your
tax
bill,
I've
got
mine
right
here.
J
J
So
between
our
diversity
of
funding
and
our
use
of
local
option
sales
tax
on
net
millage
isn't
really
that
bad
and
we
have
in
the
last
year.
In
fact,
one
of
the
items
on
our
agenda
tonight
is
to
adjust
fees
for
our
planning
department
and
our
TRC
fees.
The
like
we
did
last
year
with
our
inspection
fees.
J
We
are
striving
to
keep
that
property
tax
percentage
as
low
as
possible
and
increase
our
funding
streams
from
other
places,
so
I'm
proud
to
submit
this
budget
to
Council
tonight,
it's
balanced
both
in
terms
of
debits
and
credits
that
is
required,
but
it
takes
some
doing
to
get
that.
But
it's
also
balanced
in
terms
of
the
delivery
of
our
essential
services
to
our
citizens
without
overbearingly,
you
know
reaching
out
for
an
additional
tax
increase
to
our
citizens.
J
There
is
some
very
modest
tax
increase,
1.5
Mills
for
the
building,
specifically
of
more
fire
stations
of
public
safety
infrastructure.
That's
needed
in
this
growing
city
who
our
fire
department
has
determined.
We
don't
have
enough
coverage
on
the
cane
insula,
given
the
growth
that
that
was
approved
years
ago.
For
that
part
of
our
city,
Johns
Island
has
been
growing.
We
only
have
one
fire
station
there.
We
we
need
another
fire
station
there,
so
that's
the
most
reasonable
request.
J
In
addition,
the
budget
that
will
come
to
you
in
two
weeks
for
our
stormwater
fee
will
also
include,
as
it
did
for
this
year,
a
$2
increase
in
the
stormwater
fee.
That's
collected
on
everybody's
water
bill
that
you've
paid
monthly
so
on
to
two
different
increases.
I
think
is
justified.
It's
reasonable
it's
needed
and
it's
doesn't
break
the
backs
of
anyone,
particularly
given
the
fact
that
we
get
this
credit
from
the
Local
Option
Sales
Tax.
J
In
addition,
we've
got
a
number
of
additional
personnel
that
we're
adding
this
year
because
our
budget
did
grow
just
from
the
natural
growth
of
the
city,
we're
adding
a
recruiter
to
our
fire
department,
we're
adding
two
Assistant
Fire
Marshal's.
We
really
needed
to
beef
up
our
fire
marshal
and
inspections
department,
we're
adding
four
mechanics
to
our
shop,
which
we've
been
getting
behind
on
on
getting
repairs,
and
that
was
starting
to
impact
our
service
with
our
fleet,
and
it
was
also
driving
up
costs
because
we
were
having
to
send
so
many
vehicles
to
outside
vendors.
J
So
we
actually
hope
to
save
money
with
our
outside
vendors
by
hiring
additional
mechanics.
We're
adding
another
position
with
our
livability
and
tourism
department,
we're
adding
a
senior
construction
project
manager
for
capital
projects.
We've
got
so
many
things
going
on
and
that
we're
trying
to
build
and
repair
in
the
city
that
we
needed
more
management
for
that
department.
We're
adding
a
painter,
some
more
personnel
for
parks,
maintenance
and
when
you
see
the
budget
in
two
weeks,
of
course,
we'll
talk
about
that,
but
we're
adding
a
number
of
personnel
in
our
stormwater
budget.
J
So
we've
been
very
transparent.
There
are
a
lot
of
other
needs
from
the
departments
that
that
did
not
get
met.
We
we
had
to
make
some
tough
decisions
about
that,
because
we
couldn't
fund
everything.
We
had
lots
of
input
from,
particularly
from
the
budget
committee,
a
lot
of
discussion,
particularly
about
funding,
a
pay
increase
for
our
employees.
It's
well
needed
and
deserved
again
councilmember
wearing
your
prayer,
was
so
appropriate.
J
They
they're
here
every
day
in
and
out
serving
our
citizens.
So
this
budget
includes
a
cost-of-living
increase
for
our
non-sworn
employees.
It
raises
the
minimum
wage
for
the
lowest
paid
employees
of
the
city
and
then,
admittedly
beginning
July
1.
It
puts
into
place
a
revised
pay
plan
for
our
non-sworn
employees
and
just
explain
to
everyone.
J
We
adjusted
our
pay
plan
for
both
the
police
and
fire
departments
over
the
last
three
years,
so
those
pay
plans
have
already
been
adjusted,
but
we
had
not
done
an
adjustment
for
our
non-sworn
employees,
so
this
gets
us
on
a
good
path.
There
so
I'm
very
proud
that
without
a
lot
of
tax
increase,
we've
we've
met
essential
needs
of
a
growing
city
and
and
it's
a
balanced
budget,
so
I
know,
there's
been
a
lot
of
discussion
both
at
the
committee
and
at
our
workshop
meeting,
so
I
will
share
with
Council
and
you,
mr.
J
B
B
It
is
an
arduous
process,
but
I
think
not
only
members
of
the
ad-hoc
committee
but
I
believe
every
council
member
around
this
table
is
much
more
informed
as
a
result
of
the
open
process
and
transparent
process
you
put
in.
Please
agree
with
just
about
everything
you
said
and,
as
you
know,
the
differences
and
I'd
like
to
ask
my
colleague
if
he
will
accept
an
amendment
to
the
budget
to
amend
the
budget
to
the
ad
hoc
committees
budget
that
was
presented
during
our
workshop
on
last
week.
The
the
the
basic
difference
in
these
budgets.
B
Basically
I
mean
we
have
some
small
nuances,
but
the
basic
difference
is
the
employee
pay
raises.
As
you
know,
mr.
Muir
starts
on
January
1
and
the
an
hoc
committees
budget.
No,
it
does
require
an
additional
additional
mil
and
a
half
increase
to
be
able
to
feed
for
that
pay
raise
for
our
employees,
beginning
January,
1
2019
versus
your
budget
that
begins
July
1
2019.
B
It
is
good
to
pray
to
pray
for
our
employees
because
they
are
almost
and
I
know.
You
agree
with
this
important
asset
in
the
city,
all
the
historical
sites,
without
the
people
so
running
at
this.
If
this
community
wasn't
see
this
community
was
unclean
and
on
kept
from
our
sanitation
workers,
if
our
parks
were
risky
places
to
go
and
if
I
fire
people
didn't
show
up
on
time,
those
are
the
basic
things
a
city
has
to
do
for
the
citizenry.
So
the
basic
difference
in
these
two
budgets
are
employees.
B
Salary
pay
raises
beginning
January
1
now
I'd
like
to
go
a
step
further
and
include
in
particular
fringe
benefits
when
it
comes
to
payroll.
When
you
contribute
to
payroll.
Also,
the
employee
contributes
more
towards
retirement,
and
so
does
the
city
that
differential
that's
six
months.
Differential
employees
will
never
make
up
so
every
man,
woman
and
no
child,
because
we
don't
employ
children,
but
every
man
and
woman
that
works
for
the
city
of
Charleston.
B
If
this
theory
starts
July
1
versus
January,
1
incremental
II,
the
retirement
check
down
the
road
will
be
small
and
you
say
well,
there's
a
way
we
can
make
that
up.
We
cannot
make
that
up
for
employees,
so
there
deserve
it
now,
but
I
know
you
agree,
but
at
the
end
of
the
day,
if
people
want
to
run
against
us
because
we
gave
some
of
the
best
employees
in
any
city
in
the
country
a
pay
raise
because
it
starts
January,
1
versus
July
1
I
invite
the
competition.
It
is
the
right
thing
to
do
so.
L
I
just
want
to
make
two
points:
I
support,
but
you
said
council,
my
word:
they
won't
object
to
1.5
bill
increased,
considering
because
of
the
Local
Option
Sales
Tax.
That
will
be
rolled
back
fairly
soon,
so
they
won't
really
have
a
an
increase.
But
what
we're
dealing
with
in
HR
is
in
our
non-sworn
employees.
L
We've
got
somewhere
in
the
neighborhood
and
there's
some
argument,
whether
it's
19
or
17,
or
some
other
percentage,
there's
a
big
turnover
rate
and
nowhere
in
this
budget
does
that
cost
show
up
that
you
can
identify
training,
all
kinds
of
other
things
that
go
on.
You
know
lost
efficiency,
people
having
to
do
other
people's
work,
because
things
are
not
going
right.
L
That
18%
is
very
troubling
to
me.
What
we're
doing
here,
if
you
think
about
it
for
a
minute.
This
increase
that
we're
talking
about
the
total
increase
on
an
annual
basis
is
about
three
million
dollars
and
what
we're
doing
is
we're
funding
half
of
that
at
one
point:
five
mils,
so
we're
taking
on
a
liability
of
three
million
dollars,
and
we
only
go
one
and
a
half
million
dollars
to
pay
for
that
will
come
next
January
unless
we're
going
to
roll
this
back
or
get
rid
of
some
people.
L
We
shouldn't
be
doing
that,
and
so
I
am
very
supportive
of
increasing
that
village
and
making
making
those
raises
effective,
January,
the
1st.
That's
what
the
ad
hoc
committee
and,
quite
frankly,
you're
right,
councilmember,
Waring
and
everything
you
said
about
the
budget
is
correct.
All
those
things
we
talked
about,
but
we
went
into
a
lot
of
detail
and
it
really
came
down
to
our
budgets-
are
exactly
the
same.
L
We
ended
up
adding
that
1.5
mil,
which
is
basically
and
six
hundred
and
fifty
thousand
dollars,
and
that's
our
budget
is
over
by
a
million
six
hundred
and
sixty
thousand
dollars,
and
we
have
identified
one
two
three
four
five
items
that
are
really
one-time
expenditures
like
the
timekeeping
software
there's
two
IT
products
in
there
there's
we
weren't
able
to
fund
all
of
the
T
and
T
improvements.
We
funded
a
hundred
and
seventeen,
we
deferred
seventy-eight
and
then
this
salary
savings
based
on
our
vacancy.
But
those
amounts
there.
L
If,
if
our
staff
is
correct
and
I'm
gonna
bet
on
our
staff,
we're
going
to
have
a
surplus
in
2018,
and
if
we
do
with
that
surplus,
we
can
still
fund
some
of
these
items
that
were
deferring
we're
deferring
them
until
we
have
the
money
to
do
it.
So
my
suggestion
is:
people
are
really
not
gonna
care
about
a
1.5,
mil
increase
and
particularly
role.
In
fact,
they
will
care.
If
we
don't
pick
up
their
garbage,
they
will
care.
L
If
we
don't
have
the
Recreation
Department's
open,
they
will
care
about
a
lot
of
things,
and
this
is
really
for
the
nonce
ward
staff.
This
is
not
the
fire
got
the
police.
We
dealt
with
them
last
year,
it's
time
for
us
to
deal
with
the
other
folks
this
year,
so
I'm
going
to
support
that
motion
do
for
to
support.
They
had
Hart
budget
captain.
N
I
wouldn't
be
the
day
at
hofstra
to
death,
then
she
loves
st.
without
more
say,
but
I
think
we
need
to
give
you
the
employees
to
appear
we're
starting
in
January.
We
look
at
the
paper
all
the
time.
I
mean
we
get
these
good
acolytes
in
the
paper
magazine.
Charlton
has
the
most
livable
city
or
friendly
city.
Well,
we
didn't
have
the
employees
that
we
got.
We
got
a
second
group
of
employers,
they
do
nothing
but
cobble
stone
sidewalks.
N
They
don't
get
paid
much
to
do
that.
You
got
these
employees
that
when
these
electrical
convey
these
different
countries
coming
tities
streets
up
up,
titties
sidewalks
up,
they
can't
set
the
carbons
back
on
the
sidewalk.
I
love
people
from
the
street
and
sidewalks
have
to
go
and
do
that
professional
world
if
they
were
working
for
some
big
company,
a
brick
mason
or
something
they'd,
probably
be
making
20
25
30
$30
an
hour.
So
we
don't
pay
these
people,
but
they
make
us
look
good
to
be
the
friendliest
cities
they
make
us.
N
Okay
and
I
think
the
reason
we
would
be
doing
ourselves
a
disservice
and
we
don't
approve
this
budget
and
give
me
as
employees
a
raise
in
January
we'll
be
saying
that
these
employees,
we
don't
care
where
this
makeup,
because
we
know
we
don't
pick
it
up
those
folks
down
south
for
Broadway
ever
they
gonna
call
and
the
male's
go
feel
he
wiII
not
go,
feel
the
heat
kavita
we're
not
in
City
Hall
every
day,
but
he's
more
fielding
when
these
people
say.
Oh,
my
coppers
can't
get
pick
up
and
I
can
tell
you
right
now.
N
I
love
us
up
the
street,
the
average
garbage
truck
the
goals
in
they
passed.
My
house,
you
go
in
the
coming
street
side
at
the
King
Street
side,
some
of
these
men
and
women,
especially
during
the
summer.
They
go
to
work
seven
o'clock
in
the
morning.
Sometimes
they
out
they
ate
and
not
come
getting.
This
Java
truck
street
cleaning
up
those
weeds.
So
these
fries
we
have
some
dedicated
hard-working
employers
and
the
majority
envoy
employees
Britain
in
20
25
years
or
more
so
we
need
to
take
care
these
employees.
These
are
plays.
N
It's
a
shame
when
somebody
said
well:
I'm
going
to
work
for
North
Charleston
I'm,
going
to
work
the
Charleston
County
doing
the
same
work
and
making
more
recycling
last
year
took
like
six
or
seven
our
people
driving
the
truck.
Picking
up
that
green
kit.
That
blue
can
make
it
more
money,
then
they
make
it
picking
up
that
green
can
and
they
don't
have
to
smell
on
that
blue
campus.
You
smell
of
that
green
cane
I
think
we
need
to
take
a
deploy,
I'll
leave
it
in
Thank,
You,
councilman.
C
My
colleagues
I
agree
with
everything.
That's
said
here
even
with
the
mayor's
budget,
but
I
think
I
told
everyone
before
that
I'd
have
to
go
into
three
meals.
I
have
to
give
these
employees
a
raise.
I
know
what
they're
going
through
I
meet
with
them
every
day
on
the
streets
and
I'm
out
there
on
the
streets
every
day
out
on
the
streets,
not
in
my
house,
not
sitting
by
my
desk
I'm
out
in
the
streets
and
I,
hear
them
complaining,
complaining
complaining.
This
was
not
just
yesterday.
This
was
years
and
I
said
now.
C
We
come
to
the
point
now
that
we
can
give
them
something
something
a
raise
which
is
not
much
good
to
me,
she's
about
the
$15,
but
it's
going
to
be
$12
whatever
the
case
may
be,
but
that's
still
not
enough
to
because
if
you
look
at
what's
happening
with
the
economy
in
the
city
of
Charleston,
now
they
can't
stay
here
anyway.
You
know,
but
we
got
to
give
them
something
that
they
can
feel
comfortable
and
working
for
working
for
the
city
of
you
work
with
your
employer.
You
get
some
more
out
of
them.
C
Your
ploy
is
getting
more,
you
get
more
work
up
then,
when
you
give
them
some
incentive,
they
give
them
a
raise
as
such
when
they
would
actually
for
this
for
years,
no
mirror.
That's
before
you
came.
This
was
talking
about
before
mayor
Jonathan
Berg
came
here.
We
were
talking
about
raises
raises
raised
that
we
never
did
it,
but
now
we
happen.
Do
we
have
to
bite
the
bullet
and
do
it.
We
need
his
employees
to
work
like
I
tell
people
every
day.
This
is
my
home
I
didn't
come
here.
This
is
my
home.
C
I
grew
up
here
in
the
fifties
in
the
60
left
air
show,
but
in
New
York
in
middle
school
graduate
men
why
you
became
back
home
the
same,
but
even
with
the
change
has
not
changed
for
the
low
line.
People
that's
working
here.
I
got
a
daughter.
She
came
that
my
daughter's
paying
950
dollars
a
month
right
now
in
an
apartment
right
off
of
Xillia
Drive,
three
kids,
one
at
Tech,
one
in
10th
grade
one
on
11th
grade
birth,
but
that's
mrs.
C
pain
but
she's
working,
two
jobs
just
to
make
it
so
you
know
I
understand
these
things.
We
have
to
work
with
our
employees
here
we
have
to
do
it.
It's
not
something
we
wanna
do.
This
is
a
must
and
they're
calling
out
and
crying
for
our
help,
and
we
are
here
so
we
have
to
do
these
things,
people
looking
so
hard,
don't
worry!
But
then
yes,
we
have
to
worry
about
them.
I'm
not
gonna,
pick
up
a
garbage.
Can
I'm
not
gonna.
Do
it
I'm
not
gonna,
be
a
parking
enforcement
officer?
C
I'm
not
gonna,
do
it
so
we
need
the
network.
We
keep
the
city
going
if
you
come
out
and
walk
the
streets
with
me
sometime
at
night,
when
council
Louisville
I
welcome
these
streets
at
night,
walk
in
the
east
side,
walk
in
King
Street,
walk
in
Cannon,
Street,
walking,
Bogart
Street.
You
see
what
happen
you
need
to
be
surprised
here.
These
people
are
complaining
and
they
want
it
done,
so
it's
our
job
to
do
it.
So
if
we
have
to
read
the
text,
we
have
to
bite
that
we
have
to
bite
the
balloon.
C
One
are
not
bite
the
building
on
because
they
need
to
have
it
done
now.
I'm,
just
tired
hearing
the
cry
out
and
we're
not
doing
nothing.
So
that's
why
what's
telling
my
colleagues
I'll
go
with
the
three
meals
all
day,
long
and
I'll
bite
the
bullet,
but
I
might
wonder,
but
that
I
said
we
explain
to
the
community
why
we
are
doing
what
we
are
doing
and
let
them
know
that
they
are
understand
and
that's
the
way
I
feel
about.
M
So
what
we're
talking
about
doing
this
evening
is
raising
three
mill
increase
on
someone's
tax
bill
and
that
has
a
profound
impact
on
people
who
own
property
in
all
of
us.
I
think
at
this
table
owned
property
in
the
city
of
Charleston,
so
it
has
a
direct
impact
on
our,
not
just
our
constituents
but
on
us
as
well,
and
we
can't
take
this
lightly.
We
can't
just
sit
back
and
throw
out
numbers
of
1.5
mil
or
three
middle
increase.
M
That
has
a
real
impact
on
folks,
as
councilman
Mitchell
was
talking
about
people,
who've
got
to
have
two
jobs
to
to
support
themselves
and
their
families,
and
it's
so.
This
is
not
something
we
can
take
lightly
and
the
comments
have
been
coming
around
in
the
literature.
We've
seen
a
lot
on
our
desks
and
they
property
taxes
are
regressive.
I
mean
it's
like
someone
mentioned
to
me
earlier.
It's
like
an
another
mortgage
on
on
your
residence.
Now,
all
that
is
true,
I
mean
that's,
that's
true,
and
it
was
that
backdrop.
M
We
had
to
understand
what
we're
doing
and
I
know
we
do
and
how
the
impact
that
a
three
mil
increase
is
gonna
have
on
on
folks,
but
we've
got
to
do
it.
Half
of
this
increase
1.5
mil
increase,
provides,
as
the
mayor
mentioned
earlier,
for
Public
Safety
fire
stations.
Our
number
one
priority
in
this
city
is
Public.
Safety
we've
got
to
have
fire
stations.
We've
got
to
have
fire
stations
that
we
know
to
provide
fire
protection
to
our
citizens,
our
police
protection
to
our
citizens.
What
are
we
doing
as
a
city?
M
And,
unfortunately,
that
goes
into
part
of
this?
This
increase-
and
this
is
gonna-
affect
people's
property
taxes,
but
we've
got
to
have
that
fire
truck
in
the
in
man
that
station
it
costs
I.
Think
miss
Wharton
told
me
at
one
point:
1
million
dollars
a
year
per
company
per
station,
1
million
dollars
a
year
for
conversation,
that's
a
that's
a
heavy
expense,
but
that
is
our
responsibility,
and
so
it's
stewards
of
the
public
funds
and
public
safety.
M
Those
are
things
we
we
have
to
like
when
the
storm
was,
the
storms
were
hitting
Charleston
and
the
governor
proclaimed
that
we
have
to
do
an
evacuation
at
the
old
Piggly
Wiggly
site.
We
had
one
of
those
drop-off
spot
spots
for
sand
ice.
I
was
out
there
every
day,
working
with
the
folks
who
are
out
there,
and
these
were
the
folks
who
were
at
members
of
Public
Works.
M
These
are
the
perks
or
folks
from
recreation
and
we're
all
were
rolling
up
our
sleeves
out
there
filling
sandbags,
because
there
was
a
lot
of
people
who
could
not
physically
do
that
on
their
own,
that
that's
not
their
normal
job
recreation
people.
Employees
normally,
are
not
there
to
fill
sandbags,
but
they
were
out
there
not
complaining
one
bit
they're
out
there,
helping
our
public
helping
those
who
couldn't
help
themselves,
and
we
talked
about
the
the
value
of
our
employees
and
we
think
about
just
a
trash
question.
M
Think
about
the
folks
who
recall
when
there's
a
flood
or
a
rain
on
July
20th
in
which
the
board
is
coming
to
people's
homes.
If
we
can't
reach
out
to
the
folks
Public
Works
to
come,
which
spawned
a
storm
water
to
respond
to
that,
because
they
took
the
day
off,
they
took
a
furlough
day.
How
was
the
public
one
respond
to
us
when
we
can't
get
somebody
out
there
to
respond
to
a
flooding
issue
or
a
drainage
issue?
Those
are
those
are
people
who
were
who
were
dealing
with.
M
Those
are
the
people
we've
got
to
support,
one
of
the
breakfast
--is
that
we
had
the
Human
Resources
has
created
an
appreciation
for
our
long
term.
Employees
I
was
at
a
table
with
him
when
one
of
those
breakfasts
and
I
asked
him.
I
said
them
just
by
a
show
of
hands
fellas.
How
many
do
you
live
in
the
city
of
Charleston?
Not
one?
Not
one
person
at
that
table
could
afford
to
live
in
the
city
of
Charleston.
M
M
You
want
to
argue
with
me
and
disagree
with
me,
because
some
of
us
are
up
for
reelection
this
coming
next
year.
I
will
defend
this
because,
basically-
and
finally,
it's
just
the
right
thing
to
do-
it
is
the
moral
thing
to
do.
There's
the
right
thing
to
do-
and
this
is
this
is
our
responsibility.
This
is
called
leadership,
our
responsibility
to
say
to
to
the
citizens
of
Charleston.
This
is
why
we're
doing
it
than
why.
Thank
you.
I
First
I
want
to
thank
the
mayor
again.
I
think
we
can
all.
Thank
him.
He's
done
an
amazing
job
at
putting
this
budget
together.
We're
arguing
over
maybe
point
one
percent
of
the
budget.
Everything
else
is
great
and
I.
Remember.
A
year
ago,
I
was
sitting
up
there
as
a
councilman
elect
looking
down
on
y'all
insane.
How
on
earth
did
they
come
up
with
this
and
and
honestly,
it's
hard
work.
That's
all
it
is
it's
hard
work
at
this
table.
It's
hard
work
by
him.
I
Federally
mandated
minimum
wages,
but
you're
almost
embarrassed
sometimes
to
look
at
your
paycheck.
It's
so
small
and
you're
wondering
at
night
how
you
gonna,
pay
your
bills
and
it's
not
a
good
feeling
to
ever
have
and
if
we
can
give
our
our
wonderful
employees
an
opportunity
to
make
a
little
bit
more
and
really,
like
we've
all
said,
they're
not
doing
their
normal
jobs.
They're
going
above
and
beyond
every
day,
I
mean.
If
you
look
at
the
number
of
employees
we
have
in
the
number
of
services
we
offer.
I
I
You
know,
but,
like
we've
all
said,
we
will
defend
it
and
we
could
talk
about.
1.5
million
is
but
when
it
breaks
down
to
correct
me,
if
I'm
wrong
annual
tax
bill,
if
you
add
a
and
B
you're
talking
about
42
dollars
a
year,
forty-two
dollars
a
year
on
a
$400,000
home
right
if
you're
a
4%
homebuyer.
That
means
it's
your
primary
residence
of
the
city
of
Charleston
I,
know
myself.
I
know
everybody
around
this
table.
I
know
you
would
be
willing
to
sacrifice.
You
know
that
42
dollars
a
year.
I
I
But
what
I'm
saying
is
it
I
know
it
seems
like
a
lot,
but
to
me
it
isn't
I
think
it's
it's
worth
it
and
if
you
look
at
our
citizens-
and
you
say
hey,
can
you
sacrifice
30
to
40
dollars
next
year?
And
that
means
that
we're
gonna
have
the
great
services
that
we
have
now
and
probably
a
little
bit
more
because
our
people's
morale,
it's
gonna,
go
up.
They
know
that
the
city
cares
about
us.
We
care
about
them.
I
It's
our
job
to
make
sure
that
our
people
that
work
for
the
city
of
Charleston
are
taken
care
of
and
make
sure
they
don't
feel
like
they
would
be
better
suited
somewhere
else.
So
this
is,
you
know
we
have
to
do
this
and
for
my
generation
you
know
it's
important,
because
now
we
can
maybe
reach
out
to
some
more
people
and
say:
hey,
come
work
for
the
city
of
Charleston.
P
Thank
chairman
and
I
also
thank
the
mayor,
I
think
Amy
and
her
staff
and
and
everybody
for
all
the
work
that
you've
done
a
couple
of
couple
of
months
ago.
I
was
sitting
in
a
in
a
HR
committee
meeting
and
we
were
going
through
people
who
have
left
the
city
and
why
and
those
types
of
things-
and
there
were
several
of
them-
that
that
I
had
recognized,
but
one
in
particular
came
up
on
that
screen.
P
That
really
really
got
to
me
and
it's
a
young
young
gentlemen
that
worked
real
hard
that
had
worked
real
hard
in
our
in
our
storm
drains
and
and
those
types
of
things
had
worked
particularly
hard
in
the
church.
Creek
Basin-
and
this
is
a
guy
that
man
we
needed
to
put
down
some
some
riprap
on
somebody's
home.
He
was
gonna,
be
carrying
these
large
boulders,
putting
them
in
wheelbarrows
and
dumping
them
and
I
mean
the
work
this
guy
did
was
incredible.
P
It
was
incredible
work
that
gentleman
is
now
working
for
another
government
entity
in
the
local
area.
Now
this
isn't
a
high-skilled
job,
but
it's
gonna
cost
us
a
lot
more
money
to
find
the
next
guy
to
come
in
and
replace
him.
Then
it
would
have
been
had
we
had
that
salary
a
little
bit
higher.
So
that's
why
we
need
to
have.
We
need
to
have
salaries
raised
as
soon
as
possible
and
January
1
is
what
the
ad
hoc
budget
has
and
and
so
I'm
in
favor
of
that
Thanks.
Yes,.
J
I,
wouldn't
respectfully
say
you
know
like
this
year,
we
we
did
have
just
from
our
natural
growth,
quite
a
few
million
dollars
additional
in
the
budget
because
of
enhanced
property
values
in
the
city,
and
that
I
would
expect
to
happen
again
next
year.
So,
yes,
we're
taking
on
an
additional
expense.
But
you
know
we
should
have
some
additional
revenue
as
well.
J
So
but
I'd
certainly
get
your
point
now
for
clarification
and
I
might
I
don't
want
to
belabor
this,
but
just
so
we're
clear
and
it
may
involve
asking
councilman
Waring
to
accept
an
amendment
to
his
amendment,
but
I
think
the
clear
intent
is
to
to
make
the
key
difference
between
this
amendment
and
in
the
mayor's
budget
to
be
the
one
and
a
half
mil
and
moving
up
the
time
line
of
the
second
pay
raise
for
next
year
from
July
1
to
January
1,
just
a
matter
of
timing.
J
J
J
So
those
few
items
got
added
by
the
time
I
got
to
you
at
the
workshop
and
in
addition
to
the
reductions
that
you've
mentioned,
councilmember
moody
I
had
added
at
that
point
a
couple
more
or
suggested
a
couple:
more
deductions,
one
being
similar
to
what
you
had
mentioned:
things
that
we,
our
capital
expenses
really
rather
than
Rick
expenses.
The
the
computer
equipment
for
the
forensics
lab,
which
really
won't
go
into
service
until
2020
that
we
add
that
to
one
of
those
items
that
will
we'll
pay
for
with
the
reserve.
J
J
Now
the
bottom
line
is,
you
know
when
all
watching
out
for
us,
Amy
has
those
few
items
both
on
the
expense
and
the
credit
side,
so
that,
at
the
end
of
the
day,
if
you
would
accept
this
adjustment
to
your
amendment,
that
that
the
amended
budget
would
in
fact
reflect
everything
that
was
in
my
original
budget
to
you,
including
those
couple
of
extra
credits,
in
order
to
make
everything
balanced.
But
those
were
the
main
items
that
that
came
along.
B
Because
we
need
three
readings
on
this
and
I
was
trying
to
keep
up
with
the
numbers
on
that.
But
it
sounds
like
it's:
a
figure
of
around
$200,000,
that's
proud
of
a
two
hundred
and
twenty
million
dollar
budget,
but
I
definitely
think
there's
a
way.
We
can
work
around
that.
But
if
we
could
pass
this
motion
being
consistent
as
with
the
a
tax
and
the
H
tags,
I'm
sure
we
can
get
together
next
week,
I'll
lid
on
this
week
and
work
through
those
differences.
K
E
L
I
was
going
to
address
what
the
mayor
said
just
hit.
I
did
talk
about
a
couple
of
these
things
that
protect
the
items
that
I
listed
the
five
items
for
capital
in
nature,
the
one-time
expenses-
that's
not
that's,
not
inclusive
I
mean
we
can
add
anything
to
that
I
mean
that
was
just
what
we
did.
Those
items
that
you
talked
about,
the
salaries
I
think
we
did
talk
about
those
in
the
ad
hoc
committee
and
we
because
they
were
all
our
list-
that
we
excluded
those
and
said
we're
not
look.
L
J
G
We've
been
sitting
here
talking
about
how
great
our
staff
is,
but
I
think
that,
in
addition
to
providing
them
with
additional
salary
increase,
it's
important
for
us
to
make
sure
that
they
have
the
tools
necessary
in
order
to
do
their
job.
So
the
Gregory
Jackson
budget,
which
is
also
balanced,
is
about
trying
to
make
sure
that.
G
Most
of
what
staff
requested
for
training
the
innovation
for
additional
staffing,
okay,
only
cost
will
only
cost
another
$14
a
month.
I
mean
a
year
a
year,
$14
more
okay,
not
sure
we
have
the
votes
for
it,
but
I
think
that
if
we
are
going
to
be
consistent,
particularly
as
it
relates
to
staff,
then
I
think
we
need
to
also
make
sure
that
this
budget
gives
them
the
tools
and
the
training
necessary
for
them
to
be
even
better.
G
Let's
just
do
this
thing
one
time
and
if
we
are
in
fact
honoring
our
staff,
then
let's
honor
and
respect
their
requests
in
order
for
them
to
do
their
jobs
more
effectively
and
that's
the
Gregory
Jackson
budget
and
difference
between
the
nearest
budget
and
the
ad
hoc
to
the
budget.
Because
I
don't
think
that
we
should
balance
this
budget
on
the
backs
of
our
employees.
But
in
the
same
I
think
we
need
to
make
sure
that
they
have
the
tools
necessary
to
carry
out
the
mandates
of
this
City.
O
Thank
you
chairman
and
mayor
and
I
totally
agree
with
everything
that
everyone
else
has
said
and
encouraging
us
to
take
the
right
vote
for,
first
of
all,
rewarding
the
staff
by
an
increase
in
pay.
That
I've
personally
believed
in
looking
at
some
of
the
statistics
that
the
human
resources
and
our
Novak
group
used
to
help
us
get
to
that
understanding
of
doing
the
right
thing
by
their
pay.
O
You
know
we
we
really
do
have
time
to
make
up
for
and
I
totally
agree
that
we
need
to
start
paying
the
stuff
at
the
level
that
we
all
think
is
the
best
week.
You
can't
even
we're
proud
to
do
it
beginning
on
January,
1
and
I,
and
I
did
want
to
just
make
sure
that
you
clarified
mayor,
because
I
think
you
said
something
about
the
minimum
wage
increase
and
then
you
said
and
then
we'll
begin.
The
pay
plan
in
July
and
actually
under
your
budget
minimum
wage
would
not
begin
until
July
either.
O
That's
my
understanding
so
just
to
clarify
I
think
we're
past.
That
I
think
we're
definitely
going
to
support
the
budget
that
begins
all
of
the
pay
and
the
cost
of
living
on
January,
1
I
can't
say
it
any
better
than
councilmember
Gregory
I
really
appreciate
your
your
support.
Councilmember
I
am
I.
Think
I
was
accurately
described
in
the
newspaper
article
by
Miss
Darlington
today
about
the
the
variety
of
budget
options
that
we've
been
discussing
by
saying
that
I
am
on
one
spectrum
of
philosophically
choosing.
O
To
think
that
we
can't
just
begin
with
the
premise
that
taxes
are
bad.
I
know
that
we've
got
a
lot
of
voices
in
our
ears
about
the
eminent
right
of
property
tax
owners
to
keep
their
money
and
all
of
that,
but
they
live
in
our
city.
They
travel
in
our
roads,
they
play
in
our
parks.
You
know
they
walk
on
our
sidewalks,
they
get
their
trash
picked
up,
I
mean
I.
I.
O
Just
really
cannot
agree
or
appreciate
that
kind
of
attitude
that
you're
a
citizen
and
you
get
everything
for
free
or
it
should
be
balanced
on
the
the
inadequate
amounts
that
we
have
coming
in
from
our
other
fees
and
revenues
and
and
taxes
which
fluctuate
and
yes,
property
taxes
probably
will
go
up
again
next
year.
Mayor,
but
I
do
think
that
you
know
in
the
future.
O
My
training
and
management
is
basically
the
nuts
and
bolts
of
operations
and
facilities,
and
basically
you
value
the
people
who
serve
those
purposes
and
the
tools
and
the
and
the
ability,
the
capacity
that
you
can
provide
for
them
to
have
that
the
best
that
they
that
you
can
provide,
so
that
they
can
do
the
best
job
that
they
recommend
to
us
and
I
think
what
they
gave
to
us
is
a
sincere
effort,
their
absolute
best
advice
and
we
should
be
taking
it
and
I.
Think
for
$14
is
councilmember.
O
Griffin
said
you
know
56
or
42
dollars
is
one
shoe.
It's
not
even
a
nice
night
out
in
Charleston
$14
is
you
know
a
lunch
at
McDonald's,
so
I
really
think
I
know
I
quoted
the
Post
and
Courier
story
that
was
about
Black
Friday
shopping
and
how
everybody
turned
out,
and
everyone
is
gonna-
spend
more
money
in
their
holiday
shopping
this
year
than
in
years
past,
because
the
economy
is
roaring
and
people
are
feeling
like
they've
got
the
money
and
I
think
that
they
would
not
mind
if
we
gave
them
the.
O
20
innovation
items,
ten
new
staff,
the
training
I
feel
very
strongly
about
training
the
people
that
are
working
for
us.
They
are
begging
to
be
better
at
their
jobs.
Why
would
we
want
to
turn
that
down
and
individually?
These
are
small
numbers,
but
when
you
add
them
up,
it's
a
million
and
a
half
dollars
of
improvements
that
we
have
the
opportunity
to
give
to
our
to
our
staff
this
year,
based
on
the
fact
that
we're
in
were
being
blessed
by
an
economy
like
we
haven't
seen
in
even
before
the
recession,
so
I
know
a
council.
O
Member
moody
was
trying
to
comfort
me
the
other
day.
By
saying,
when
you
look
at
all
these
little
items,
you
know
just
supplies,
I
mean
some
of
the
staff
just
need.
You
know
supplies
they
need
a
bio
cabinet
to
put
all
the
documents
in
need
to
have
$10,000
worth
of
scanning
so
that
they
don't
have
to
do
with
paper
ever
again
and
mr.
O
Mooney
was
trying
to
comfort
me
and
say
well,
you
know
when
it's
little
numbers
like
that
everybody's
able
to
sort
of
squeeze
out
what
they
want
by
the
end
of
the
year,
but
that's
the
same
thing
for
overtime.
We
pay
a
lot
of
overtime
because
we
have
a
lot
of
unforeseen
hours
that
we
require
of
our
employees
to
go
through
the
emergencies
and
the
weather
events
and
all
the
other
extracurricular
things
that
the
city
brings
in
hoping
to
have
a
great.
O
You
know,
pray
here
and
a
great
party
here
and
a
great
event
here,
and
that
requires
over
time
and
we
don't
budget
for
overtime.
That's
the
rule,
I
learned,
so
we
expect
them
to
find
overtime
in
basically
not
spending
on
something
that's
in
their
budget
so
that
they
can
pay
their
employees
to
work.
The
hours
that
are
required
so
that
we
get
the
services
that
we
are
expecting
from
our
our
city
staff,
so,
yes
little
items,
add
up
I,
think
they
they
provide
the
quality
and
the
confidence.
O
It's
an
assurance
factor
that
we
are
here,
we've
got
their
backs.
We
appreciate
their
work,
we
want
to
pay
them
well
and
we
want
to
give
them
the
tools
that
they
need
to
do
a
good
job
for
us
and
that's
what
I
would
ask
that
we
increase
this
millage
to
one
more
point,
however:
we
express
it
bring
it
up
to
four
add
$14
to
the
four
hundred
thousand
dollar
property:
four
percent,
homeowner
and
I.
O
G
E
E
H
H
D
Shakings
I'd
like
to
speak
briefly:
Thank
You
mr.
chairman,
mr.
mayor
and
members
of
council
I
agree
with
exactly
half
of
what's
been
said
around
here
today
and
that
is
and
I
think
I
said
it
from
the
get-go
I
wasn't
gonna
vote
for
any
budget
that
didn't
have
a
full-year
increase
to
our
employees.
Going
forward.
I
mean
I,
think
you
know
sort
of
back
to
government
101
who
are.
We
were
the
people
who
work
for
the
city.
We
need
to
make
sure
we
retain
them.
D
The
one
thing
that
I
learned
during
this
budget
process
and
I
do
think
having
the
committee
was:
educational
I
think
we
learned
a
lot.
I
think
is
lot.
We
can
learn
going
forward
next
year
too,
but
I
learned
that
we
had
an
18%
turnover
rate
and
our
non-sworn
employees
in
the
city
of
Charleston
for
the
last
five
years.
That's
unbelievable,
I
mean
I
was
really
taken
aback
by
that
and
there's
a
number
reasons
for
it,
but
it's
a
very
high
number.
D
It
means
in
five
years
we
lose
just
about
a
hundred
percent
of
our
employees
and
it
all
comes
back
to
pay.
So
we
need
to
get
to
a
place
where
we
pay
our
employees,
the
rate
which
they're
due
we'll
never
get
to
that
level
but
rate
which
they
feel
the
work
that
they
should
in
their
job.
I
want
to
stay
here
as
a
career
forever
right.
So
that's
a
basic
premise
and
all
of
budgeting
and
everything
we
do
should
have
some
basic
premises
in
it
and
should
have
some
long-range
planning
in
it.
D
I
mean
and
I
think
one
of
the
things
that
maybe
we
missed
the
opportunity
this
year
and
I
hope
we
do
don't
do
it
next
year
is
to
come
up
with
a
set
of
principles,
beliefs
and
premises
as
we
build
the
budget-
and
you
know
think
about
it.
This
year,
Public
Safety's
our
number
one
priority
in
the
city.
If
Public
Safety
is,
we
have
some
deficiencies
in
public
safety
which
apparently
we
do
then
put
in
there.
D
We
need
two
fire
stations:
employee
retention,
arrays,
let's
make
sure
that's
part
of
our
premises,
infrastructure,
both
political
infrastructure
and
infrastructure
for
city,
including
flooding,
put
it
in
there,
affordability
of
housing,
I
mean
and
we've
got
a
bond
out
there.
That's
waiting
to
go
that
actually
isn't
in
our
budget
this
year
and
build
those
as
premises
and
then
build
our
budget
when
I
first
got
elected
to
City
Council
in
2010.
D
You
know,
y'all,
remember
what
our
budget
was
in
2010.
It
was
a
hundred
and
thirty
five
million
dollars
this
year.
It's
going
to
be
somewhere
between
two
hundred
and
twenty-two
and
two
hundred
and
twenty-four
million
dollars.
It's
got
100
million
dollars
in
ten
years
eight
years,
that's
significant!
That
shows
that
we're
growing
one
of
the
things
that
was
not
part
of
this
conversation
and
and
I
regret.
D
That
now
is
budgeting
around
the
natural
growth
of
our
budget,
and
we
didn't
do
that
this
year
and
and
I
I,
wonder
where
we
missed
that
opportunity
and
one
of
the
things
that
strikes
me
as
I
sit
here
tonight
and
it
struck
me
is
I've,
really
thought
about
this
and
look
through
all
this.
There
just
seems
to
be
some
assumption
that
an
employee
pay
raise
or
a
couple
of
fire
stations
have
to
be
tied
to
a
property
tax
increase
I'm,
not
sure
that's
true
I
mean
we've
had
natural
growth.
D
What
do
we
do
with
that
money
and
we
reinvested
it
back
into
our
city,
so
raising
employee
pay
on
the
backs
of
1.5,
mil
tax
increase
and
I
know.
Councilmember
shade
said
he
was
in
a
room
where
none
of
our
the
employees
that
were
there
lived
in
the
city,
but
if
they
live
in
the
city
that
money's
going
immediately
back
in
property
taxes,
because
I
will
tell
you
I've
heard
all
this
about
$45
and
$400,000
at
4%.
D
Their
rents
going
up
because
the
property
owner
is
not
going
to
absorb
a
6%
one
and
a
half
three
mil
four
mil
property
tax
increase,
especially
look
around
at
all
the
other
prosperity
in
the
city.
So
I
desperately
want
to
get
to
a
place
where
we
have
a
budget
where
we
give
a
raise
to
our
employees
starting
January.
D
1St
retention
has
got
to
be
there,
but
I
don't
buy
into
the
premise
that
it
has
to
naturally
in
an
xray
lead
inexorably,
be
tied
to
a
property
tax
increase
because
it
is
affects
people
who
can't
afford
$400,000
homes,
small
businesses,
small
businesses,
to
get
creamed
with
property
tax
increases.
Mr.
mayor,
you
pointed
out
that
we
raise
45
percent
of
our
budget
from
property
taxes.
D
What's
the
next
biggest
piece
business
license
fees,
that's
the
next,
so
small
business
that
owns
our
own
business
getting
creamed
and
we
just
keep
hitting
them
hitting
and
hitting
them
as
we
keep
growing
growing
growing.
It's
an
unsustainable
model.
Now
we're
gonna
take
up
in
two
weeks
our
stormwater
fee
budget
there's
going
to
be
a
proposition
that
we
increase
the
stormwater
fee.
$2,
that's
no
secret!
It's
coming!
That's
a
much
fairer
way
to
do
it,
because
that
hits
everybody.
D
The
property
tax
doesn't
hit
everybody,
but
the
people
that
hits
especially
those
who
don't
own
the
house
live
in
6%,
get
hit
worse.
So
I
worry
about
the
process
of
going
through
and
building
a
budget,
with
just
the
assumption
and
presumption
that
we
have
to
have
a
property
tax
increase
titoo,
among
other
things,
an
employee
raise
which,
if
you
live
in
the
city,
the
minute
we
give
you
the
raise
is
going
to
get
sucked
back
into
your
living
expenses
period.
D
It
just
is
so
I'm
thinking
about
all
this
and
I'm
listening,
but
somewhere
between
222
and
224
million
is
going
to
be
a
property
tax
increase
without
using
the
natural
growth
of
our
budget
to
fund
some
of
the
things
like
a
property
like
a
employee
raise
I'm,
not
sure,
we've
done
our
best
homework
and
done
our
best
work
to
get
there.
So
I
have
some
concern
about
it:
Thank
You,
Council,
moody,
I,.
L
L
All
right
I
mean
that's
where
the
money's
going,
that's
where
the
growth
is
and
all
that
tax
increase
is
coming
on
is
having
to
be
spent
within
those
tips,
and
that's
where
the
the
growth
is
in
terms
of
the
value
it's
not
being
spread
across
the
city
equally
and
as
you
would
think,
if
your
values
are
going
up,
that
everybody
would
share
it.
That's
not
true!
Now
what
we
haven't
done
it
I
agree
with
is
we
have
not
projected
forward
and
said?
L
Okay,
when
of
those
tips,
gonna
come
off,
we
just
had
one
that
did
come
off
and
they're
they're
set
up
for
25
years
or
stuff
like
that,
and
it's
going
to
be
many
years
before
some
of
that
money's
available
through
the
balances
thing,
and
so
that
might
be
where
we
can
bring
back
some
property
relief
when
that,
when
that
money
starts
coming
back
in
it
doesn't
have
to
be
spent
to
pay
back
bonds
or
whatever
that
that
TIF
generation.
That's
the
missing
concept
that
you
you
talk
about
it
we,
but
we've
got
to
do
this.
L
O
O
First
one
is
the
rental
pass-throughs
I
agree
with
that
that
that
you
know
most
most
property
owners
if
there
are
6%
investors,
their
landlords,
of
whatever
nature,
big
small
and
in
between
they
are
not
absorbing
any
increases
if
it's
in
their
lease
to
be
able
to
pass
them
through,
but
that's
a
very,
very
small
pass-through
compared
to
everything
we
know
about
rents
rising
in
the
whole
Charleston
region.
People
are
going
to
be
paying
more
rent
regardless.
O
So
most
people
won't
even
have
the
$56
that
councilmember,
Gregory
and
I
are
proposing
that
that
cumulates
with
the
three
budgets
that
were
that
were
speaking
about
so
yes,
it's
gonna
be
an
increase,
and
yes
it'll,
be
something
that
we're
gonna
have
to
explain,
and
you
know
the
be
proud
about,
but
I
don't
think
that
that's
gonna
be
a
true
problem
to
anyone,
any
one
property
owner.
The
other
thing
you
talked
about
was
natural
growth
and
I,
totally
agree
that
you
know.
O
We've
made
strategic
decisions,
as
all
communities
have
to
create
these
TIF
districts
to
get
the
infrastructure
and
the
value
out
of
our
of
our
opportunities,
basically
the
land
that
we
control
for
the
long-term
benefit
of
the
whole
city
and
whole
region.
So
that's
that's
a
philosophical.
You
know,
debate
that
we
could
have
over
and
over
and
over
again,
but
the
city
I
think
is
done
really
well
with
tips.
The
bottom
line
about
natural
growth
for
this
is
we
lose
money
on
every
property
that
we
that
we
take
into
the
city
I.
O
Don't
think
that
we
do
a
balancing
or
evaluation
when
we,
you
know,
sit
here
on
the
real
estate
committee
and
agree
as
we're
gonna
do
tonight
to
annex
three
or
four
single
block
properties.
We
never
talked
about
the
cost
to
the
city.
The
sheet
comes
to
us.
It
says:
there's
a
sewer,
hookup
available,
there's
a
water
hookup
available,
there's
public
services
already
in
the
area,
there's
public
safety
for
fire
stations
and
police,
and
that's
all
we
ever
think
about.
We
spend
money
for
a
resident
a
lot
more
than
we've
got
back
in
property
owner
taxes.
O
So
that's
where
our
natural
growth
is
going,
we've
grown
the
city,
that's
a
good
thing.
No
one
would
go
backwards
from
growing
the
city,
but
we
have
to
realize
that
we
we
are
have
expanded
and
we
don't
have
the
funds
available
to
pay
for
the
expansion
and
the
services
and
the
standards
of
excellence
and
success
that
our
staff
want
to
bring
to
us.
So
thank
you.
America.
J
So
I
just
wanted
to
also
respond
and
add
to
the
conversation
about
our
natural
growth
that,
in
fact,
as
I
mentioned
earlier
this
year,
we
did
see
I
think
it
was
about
six
or
seven
million
dollar
increase
in
our
income
because
of
our
quote
natural
growth
and
with
all
due
respect,
we
did
talk
about
those
priorities
for
this
city
for
this
coming
year.
That's
why
we
spent
so
much
time
talking
about
our
employee
benefits
and
it
was
getting
down
to
what
we're
gonna.
J
So
in
fact
we
are
utilizing
that
natural
growth
of
our
city
to
pay
for
these
priorities,
the
flooding.
We
will
take
care
in
two
weeks,
as
you
mentioned,
but
that's
another
area
where
we're
growing
the
budget
and
we're
going
to
increase
the
fees,
because
it
is
that
important
of
a
priority
of
our
city.
So
we
may
not
have
exactly
talked
about
it
in
the
rooms
you
you've
just
mentioned,
but
in
reality
we
were
doing
just
that.
That's
a
wagon
for.
K
K
Okay.
When
we
go
to
our
department
heads
we
go
I
can
ask
everybody
around
this
table.
If
there's
something
there's
not
on
this
budget
and
I
bet
you,
everybody
could
come
up
with
something
those
are
called
unfunded.
As
money
becomes
available,
they
pick
out
the
funding
and
you
fund
the
ones
in
a
prioritize
or
which
is
I.
Think
what
that
comes
from
a
moody
and
talk
about
that
right,
Amy,
that's
pretty
much!
K
K
So
having
said
that,
I
am
he's
the
one
budget
that
my
colleague
here
has
been
part
of
seems
to
have
taken
part
of
those
unfunded
and
that
in
another
mill
or
so
to
fund
them.
Well,
we
have
a
whole
list
that
I
guarantee.
It
is
not
on
that
goes
up
if
you
don't
have
ten
percent
of
your
budget
in
unfunded.
In
addition,
you're
doing
something
wrong:
okay
and
that's
a
bunch
of
history
from
from
this
fella
and
who
doesn't
pay
piano,
but
bottom
line,
guys
I
think
we
need
to
go
on
and
vote
it.
K
B
A
Thank
you
all
for
the
questions.
Jim
yeah
and
I'm
gonna
indulge
me
for
just
one
minute.
I've
held
my
comments.
I
want
to
make
just
a
couple
quick
comments
and
I
will
call
for
the
question.
I
want
to
say
that
for
I'll
make
history
tonight
for
myself
a
personal
record
I've
never
voted
for
tax
increase
as
long
as
I've
been
on
City
Council.
A
However,
I
spent
six
months
with
the
members
of
the
ad
hoc
committee
going
through
hundreds
of
pages
of
a
budget,
a
tremendous
amount
of
time
with
staff
we
had
almost
every
manager
director
partment
had
come
in
and
speak
to
the
ad
hoc
committee
and
one
by
one
go
through
every
single
request.
They
had
understand
what
they
were
looking
at
and
try
to
come
up
with
a
prioritization.
We
had
28
million
dollars
of
requests
from
department
heads.
We
were
able
to
fund
four
for
me.
A
A
Okay,
that
was
for
the
ad
hoc
Budget
Committee
recommendation,
not
not
to
that,
but
moving
forward
between
now
and
the
18th.
There
will
be
some
further
discussion
and
before
we
move
to
the
next
time,
I
do
want
to
personally
thank
Amy
and
her
staff
for
spending
the
amount
of
time
that
they
spend
with
us
and
I
know
the
other
members
of
that
hoc
committee
would
agree.
It
was
certainly
I
opening
experience.
I
know
it
took
a
lot
of
time
on
y'all's
behalf,
but
I
can
tell
you
from
the
members
ad
hoc
committee.
A
L
L
L
A
That's
right
all
right,
so
we're
gonna
move
on
to
item
number,
eight
and
as
public
service
acceptance
of
the
2016
FEMA
grant
award
to
acquire
and
demolish
three
residential
properties
in
discussion,
all
those
in
favor
signify
by
saying
aye.
Those
opposed
now
is
have
it
item.
9
is
planning
for
aspiration
sustainability.
A
A
L
Number
11,
12
and
13
all
have
to
do
with
that
spring
and
Fishburne
and
I
I
didn't
go
to
the
public
service
Edie.
But
could
we
get
a
report
on
these
before
we
both
because
I
I
understand?
We've
got
some
trouble,
that's
brewing
on
these
things
in
terms
of
cost
and
we're
approving
more
contracts
here
and
I.
L
A
L
I
just
kind
of
want
to
know
I
mean
this
was
total
154
million
dollar
project
is
all
of
this.
In
light,
are
we
going
to
be
able
to
finish
it,
for
that?
154
million
is
all
of
that
finance.
Where
are
we
on
these
projects?
We
keep
getting
them
one
at
a
time
back
and
I'm
wondering
what
the
end
game
is
sure
sure
I
understand,
if
that's
a
question.
Q
Q
The
original
project
budget
of
154
million
that
was
put
together
way
back
in
2009
when
we
were
looking
for
funding
for
from
an
era
era,
funding
from
the
federal
government
got
the
tiger
grant
out
of
that,
I've
got
the
Fed
match
to
fund
phase
2
and
the
SIB
is
gonna
fund,
phase,
3
and
then
part
of
phase
4.
It's
not
gonna
fund,
all
of
phase
4.
Q
L
I
guess
my
question
is:
if
we
look
at
the
four
phases,
because
I
think
it's
v
pays
to
come
right,
that's
correct!
So
if
we
look
at
phase
one
through
four,
how
much
was
that
budget
is?
How
much
did
we
spend?
We
know
what
that
is.
What
that's
going
to
be.
Is
there
a
delta
there
or
do
we
know
whether
phase
one
came
in,
say.
Q
Phases,
one
two
and
three
came
in
at
what
was
expected
back
in
2009
now
now
keep
in
mind
that
we
are
almost
ten
years
later
we
have
taken
a
project
that
was
going
to
be
done
as
one
as
one
project
under
one
prime
contractor.
Now
we
have
split
it
out
into
five
different
phases.
We
have
stretched
those
costs
over
ten
plus
years,
but.
L
L
Right
that
tells
me
we
got
it.
We
got
a
big
hole
somewhere,
I'm,
not
sure
exactly
whether
its
cost
overruns
or
just
the
cost
excavating
or
whether
we've
got
screw-ups
or
just
what
that's
I
mean
we're
going
down
a
road
here,
that's
very
uncomfortable
to
me
and
I.
It
seems
to
be
like
public
service
or
somebody
needs
to
set
out
and
start
looking
and
if
we're
gonna
be
20
million
30
million,
where
the
number
is
over
budget
where's
that
money
coming
from.
So
we're
talking
about
1
mil
here
place
for
your
right,
yeah.
G
At
154,
no.
G
G
Q
G
G
F
B
B
So
sticking
with
truth
transparency,
but
we
really
need
to
do
is
when
and
there's
Wharton
is
certainly
covered
over
with
work
right
now.
Working
with
this
budget
fretfully
we're
gonna
be
through
this
budget.
In
two
weeks.
That
said,
we
actually
decide
by
side
comparison,
in
other
words,
feeds
one
was
supposed
to
cost
this
with
contingencies
that
ended
up
costing
that
phase
two
three
so
forth
and
so
on,
because
if
you
were
to
ask
me
right
now,
it
might
life
depended
on
it.
B
Twenty
four
million
dollars
more
than
anybody
ever
envisioned
I
can
tell
you
that
answer
saved
my
life
and
I.
Don't
think
anybody
around
the
table
can
really
tell
you
that,
so
we
need
to
know
that
ten
years
from
now
you
know,
I
probably
will
not
be
on
this
council,
but
maybe
a
council
councilman
loose
astilbe.
H
B
The
younger
people
on
council
is
subject
to
be
in
the
institutional
knowledge
or
what
caused
this
to
happen
needs
to
be
passed
along
because,
during
that
period
of
time,
Kyle,
home
West
and
the
like
would
be
so
I'd
like
to
ask
the
committee
to
hold
when
to
be
held
and
our
CFO
once
she
gets
commander
the
money
on
how
we
how
this
occurred,
along
with
our
engineering
department,
we
can
get
a
full
explanation
of
how
this
happened,
and
hopefully,
some
teachable
moments
on
which
shouldn't
happen
again.
Thank
you.
All.
M
Part
of
that
discussion,
we're
talking
about
councilmen
wearing,
should
also
include
what
happens
if
we
don't
complete
the
project,
because
we
need
we
need
in
the
way
we
are
with
the
project.
What
are
the
benefits
of
that
project
and
what
happens
if
we,
if
we
don't
finish
it
out,
we
deceive
make
sure
that's
a
part
of
our
discussion.
I'm
seeking
Thank.
D
You,
mr.
chairman,
maybe
Amy
can
just
answer
this
I'm.
Looking
at
the
three
different
items
on
our
agenda,
the
number
11,
which
is
the
contract
for
five
hundred
and
some
thousand
Davison
Floyd.
It
seems
to
me
and
reading
between
the
lines
are
we
essentially
hiring
Davis
employed
to
go
in
there
and
tell
us
what
the
heck's
going
on
is
that
what
that
is
all
about.
D
E
E
H
A
J
So
if
I
may
share
this,
will
my
my
own
thoughts
and
report
on
this
as
best
I
can
I
believe
the
primary
differential
is
the
fact
that
the
estimates
that
were
done
for
these
complicated
phases
was
done
almost
10
years
ago,
and
the
world
has
changed
markedly.
The
construction
market
has
changed
and
and
the
I
I
inquired
with
Davidson
Floyd
myself
as
to
whether
they
felt
like
we
should
throw
this
bid
out
and
and
put
it
out
again,
and
they
felt
like
that
at
this
point
that
it
would
cost
us
even
more
money.
J
If
we
were
to
do
that,
that
we
had
I
believe
eight
or
nine
pre-qualified
bidders
for
the
job.
The
two
top
bids
were
very
close
to
each
other,
which
tells
you
you
know
that
it
was
competitive.
In
addition,
they
were
within
5%
of
the
reason,
the
most
recent
estimate
for
the
job
by
Davidson
Floyd,
and
so
what
has
really
changed
is
that
the
estimate
for
doing
this,
this
job
really
changed
over
ten
years
and
and
we
didn't
make
allowances.
J
You
know
from
a
funding
point
of
view
over
a
ten-year
period
to
to
adjust
for
that
and
we're
at
the
juncture
where
you
know,
with
all
the
work
we've
done
today
in
drilling
tunnels
and
and
beautifying
the
septum
of
Clark
Parkway.
This
is
the
first
part
of
the
project
that
actually
gets
some
more
out
of
there
and
so
believe.
You
me
if,
if
I
had
been
advised
by
by
David's
employed
that
we
could
save
money
by
putting
this
thing
out
again,
I
would
have
been
the
first
to
bring
that
suggestion
to
you.
J
That
is
not
their
belief
or
their
recommendation,
and,
and
we
would
be
more
than
happy
to
have
a
full
council
meeting
workshop,
whatever
you
want
to
do
and
and
dissect
each
and
every
phase
of
it
and
what
the
estimates
were
back
then
what
they
are
now
and
and
happy
to
do
that.
But
the
stark
reality
is
I
believe
we
we,
the
best
thing
for
our
city,
is
to
to
keep
keep
going.
Sometimes
I
say
when
you're
going
through
hell.
The
best
thing
do
is:
keep
going
you'll
get
to
the
other
side.
Mr.
D
Chairman
can
I
just
dissipate,
follow
up
I,
don't
disagree
with
any
said.
Mr.
mayor,
we
want
that
project
to
be
successful
and
working
we've
seen
the
effects
of
just
a
few
inches
of
rain
on
the
septima
Clark.
This
is
a
project
that
many
of
us
were
sitting
here
when
this
application
first
went
in
for
the
tiger
grant,
it
was
a
wrestling
match.
D
We
worked
really
hard
to
the
sieve,
to
get
it
in
place,
I
think
the
concern
I
have
and
I
sort
of
heard
some
crumbs
around
the
table,
and
maybe
even
from
the
chairman,
is
that
we're
now
being
asked
to
approve,
after
the
fact,
a
very
large
contract
in
a
budgeting
time,
what
we
are
wrestling
with
making
sure
our
employees
get
a
raise
and
all
of
a
sudden
I
mean
you've,
got
a
million
plus
dollars
worth
of
things
going
on
here.
That
have
already
happened.
So
I
just
think.
D
It
is
very
important
on
a
scale
of
this
magnitude
that
you
mayor
and
that
everyone
around
this
table
is
kept
up
to
date
in
real
time
as
to
where
we
are
financially
with
a
project
that
we've
heard
now.
I
heard
it
was
April
2013
23
now
we've
heard
us
2024
we're
gonna
be
living
with
this
project
from
other
six
years,
six
years.
That
makes
it
a
16
year
project.
D
K
L
I've
just
was
exactly
where
you
are
counselor
ever
widening.
We
need
to
have
some
answers
and
we
need
to
have
a
plan
as
to
how
we're
going
to
go
forward.
I
mean
it
really
would
be
a
shame
if
we
come
down
and
we
got
all
these
tunnels
and
ditches
and
holes
in
the
ground
and
it's
full
of
water.
We
can't
pump
them
out
and
I,
don't
know
what
that
thirty
million
dollars
will
buy
down
at
the
end,
how
much
of
this
project,
but
we
need
to
this.
N
Said
we
have
contingency
funds
anytime,
you
going
over
the
contingencies,
you
see,
you
won't
spend
more
money,
you
need
to
come
back
to
council.
Why
does
that
happen?
I,
don't
know
well,
I
certainly
like
to
see
us
get
some
Samantha's
position.
This
is
love,
money
and
I'm.
One
for
sure
was
open
that
a
few
more
years
it
just
probably
from
the
concept
and
call
to
win
flatten.
N
What
would
look
like
I'll
be
around
when
it
gets
finished
or
not
not
the
way
it
looks,
I
don't
know,
but
we
need
to
get
some
answers
that
thing
we
need
after
we
get
this
budget
by
our
side
we
got
very
coupling.
People
in
our
budget
offices
will
take
care
of
this
and
get
us
an
answer.
Is
this:
we
give
them
some
for
you
tonight
now
we
give
them
some
headaches,
but
listen.
This
seems
like
it's
gonna,
be
a
big
headache.
This
a
big
crossover
right.
So
we
need
to
go
out.
A
A
A
D
M
B
I
Griffith
December
December.
We
need
to
I've
noticed
that
a
lot
of
this
money
supposes
money
was
gonna
come
out
of
the
drainage
fund.
We
need
to
see
what
all
these
extra
expenditures
would
do.
The
drain
is
fun
as
well.
K
A
D
D
L
You,
mr.
chairman,
we
had
item
a
was
a
request
and
authorize
the
mayor
to
execute
that
he's,
but
SEC
and
G
for
underground
wiring
doubt
that
property,
the
old
bridge
site
that
was
approved
by
the
committee,
the
item
B.
We
did
not
go
into
executive
session.
We
got
a
report
from
the
developer
of
that
property
on
that
piece
and
we're
going
to
take
this
back
up.
We
don't
think
we're
going
to
need
an
executive
session,
but
we
got
a
report
and
that's
the
property.