Florence City Council gives final approval to budget

By: Charles Tomlinson | SCNOW
Published: June 16, 2008

FLORENCE — Florence City Council has given its final approval to the city’s proposed $68 million budget for fiscal year 2008-09, which includes an increase in franchise fees.

Council voted unanimously Monday to approve the budget.

City franchise fees, which companies pass along to customers, will rise next month from 3 percent of gross receipts to 5 percent of the companies’ collections.

The city projects the franchise fees will raise $3.4 million in the coming fiscal year to help fund post-retirement benefits, the city’s Planning and Urban Development Department, debt service on a future teen center and salaries for two additional police officers.

Water and sewer rates in July are scheduled to rise 6 percent for city residents and 9 percent for customers outside the city. They rose the same amount last year and are scheduled to rise the same percentage in July 2009. The additional revenues will help fund a new $100 million wastewater treatment plant.

Also Monday,Councilman Ed Robinson asked the city to consider giving communities in east and north Florence access to vacant city-owned properties that a group could use for affordable single-family homes.

Council approved the concept of helping the community effort, called the Housing Development Group, which aims to help the city’s poorer communities improve their living conditions, Robinson said.

The community would raise money to buy building materials, he said.

“(It’s) not giving us a handout — we just need a hand,” he said.

The effort has received a positive response from developers and white city residents, but also needs the support of black residents in north and east Florence to succeed, Robinson said.

Councilman Bill Bradham suggested that council should hold a work session on the issue.

Increasing development in downtown and north Florence was a major issue in the city’s recent mayoral primary.

Council also voted Monday to allow taxi drivers to raise their maximum charges by 75 cents to compensate for rising fuel costs.

A final vote to create the Wilson Road Residential Overlay District was deferred Monday.

Residents of the community have asked for the overlay, which would allow no duplexes, multifamily units or town homes. Developers, however, have voiced their opposition and say the pending ordinance limits what they can do with their land in the area.

City attorney Jim Peterson said council can’t take up the issue again until June 27, which will mark 30 days since the Florence County/Municipal Planning Commission deferred the matter.

Council also deferred a rezoning request that could allow 16 quadruplexes on 12½ acres off Harmony Street and North Hartwell Drive. Council delayed action until city staff members speak with the applicant, who might withdraw the plans that have drawn opposition from residents of the area, Florence Urban Planning and Development Director Phillip Lookadoo said.

Councilman Rick Woodard also selected Katherine Wilcox as council’s final appointment to the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals, effective July 1.