Hollywood budget gets initial OK

Hollywood Town Council has given initial approval to next year's $3 million budget, about $880,000 more than it planned to spend or bring in last year.

Residents will have the opportunity to comment during a public hearing slated for 6 p.m. June 23, immediately before council votes on the budget a second and final time.

The 2008-09 fiscal year budget includes raises for town staff, though the exact amount has not been determined. Several council members said the 3 percent raise initially proposed is too low, particularly with the rising cost of gasoline.

Council member Annette Sausser suggested a 6 percent increase, council member John Dunmyer III suggested 8 percent and council member Ezell Middleton suggested 10 percent, all at a finance meeting last month. When those options were discussed at the recent council meeting, council member Arnold Collins asked that staff poll other municipalities on their raises before a decision is made.

"We don't want to be too far out of line," Collins said.

The budget also includes an $18,000 salary for a new position — a community/parks coordinator whose responsibilities would include generating activities for children and adults, said Mayor Jacquelyn Heyward. The community's need for more organized activities, particularly for youth, was identified through Power of Ten neighborhood meetings initiated by the current administration.

Most of the estimated increase in expenditures and revenue comes from the utility and grant sections, not from day-to-day operations. The town will continue not to levy property taxes, and user fees, including those for business licenses, will not change.

About $470,000 of the increased revenue is a utilities surplus from last year. Grants will supply $350,000 more revenue this year than last, and franchise fees will provide $87,000 more, the town predicts. The town is planning to spend $500,000 on a water and sewer expansion and the Charleston Water System main line. It has added a $12,000 fund to assist low-income residents with impact fees for waste water.

Several new community contributions will be made, including $10,000 for Power of Ten, a group for neighborhood organizations and Hollywood businesses, and $1,800 for the SUN (Spiritually Uniting Neighborhoods) Committee, the group that last year organized a back to school blessing event and the weatherization of senior homes.

Copies of the budget are available at Town Hall, 6322 S.C. Highway 162.

Reach Kristen Hankla at 937-5548 or khankla@postandcourier.com.