Results - June 29 Special North Myrtle Beach City Council Meeting

On June 29 at City Hall, City Council met in a 6:00 p.m. executive session, followed by a 7:00 p.m. meeting. 

During the executive session, City Council received a legal briefing regarding an appointment to the Board of Zoning Appeals, and a legal briefing to discuss a potential ordinance regarding wearing facial coverings to help prevent the spread of COVID-19. Council took no action.

During the meeting, Employee Longevity awards went to Communications Technician/Lead Jailer Rachael Stanley (10 years of service), Communications Technician/Lead Jailer Christi Norton (5 years), Heavy Equipment Operator Ryan Stanley (5 years) and Communications Technician/Jailer Jeffrey Wilson (5 years).

Longevity awards go in five-year increments to employees who consistently provide excellent customer service.

Council passed second (final) reading of an ordinance setting the FY 2021 (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021) tax levy at 45 mils, a 7.9 mils increase over FY 2020. The City’s property tax rate remains the lowest property tax rate for a full-service City in Horry County and among the lowest in South Carolina.

The millage increase enables the City to pay over two years a short-term loan of $4.5 million taken out prior to the COVID-19 emergency to purchase 96 acres for the expansion of the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex.

When City Council passed the City’s current FY 2020 budget, it reduced the City’s millage rate by 6.1 mils from 43.2 mils to 37.1 mils in order to reflect the end of an eight-year bond issue with which the City purchased 162 acres and constructed the original Park & Sports Complex. Since opening in March 2014, the facility generated over $100 million in new, direct revenue for the North Myrtle Beach economy, primarily in the off-season.

City Council passed second reading of an ordinance adopting the FY 2021 (July 1, 2020-June 30, 2021) municipal budget.

When City Council passed the FY 2020 budget (ends June 30, 2020), it reduced the City’s millage rate by 6.1 mils from 43.2 mils to 37.1 mils in order to reflect the end of an eight-year bond issue with which the City purchased 162 acres and constructed the original Park & Sports Complex. Since opening in March 2014, the facility generated over $100 million in new, direct revenue for the North Myrtle Beach economy, primarily in the off-season.

The FY 2021 budget that emerged from City Council’s February 24-25 budget retreat, held prior to the onset of the COVID-19 emergency, was $119 million and is now $89 million.

FY 2021 budget reductions include:

·     Freeze 41 full-time vacant and proposed employee positions, saving $2.5 million. 

·     Delay large water and sewer projects at least until FY 2022, saving $6.5 million.

·     Defer the 18^th Avenue North Ocean Outfall project until October 2021, saving $9.5 million

·     Delay the start of construction of the combined emergency operations and data center west of the Intracoastal Waterway, saving $2 million.

·     Delay the placement of utilities underground in the Cherry Grove section as part of the Santee Cooper Underground Utilities Project, saving $1.75 million.

Defer the start of construction on fields and facilities for the expansion of the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex, saving $8 million for Phase I.