City of Marion adopts budget, raises fees

By: Naeem Mcfadden | SCNow
Published: July 01, 2009

Marion City Council members had a special meeting and public hearing this past week to discuss ordinances to raise rates and fees and to adopt a 2009-10 budget.

After the public hearing, Council granted final reading approval to an ordinance to increase water and sewer rates and an ordinance to increase sanitation fees.

“We do have some things in the works that will alleviate this tax on our citizens,” Mayor Rodney Berry said, adding that he hoped to make an announcement at a future meeting.

“This is not an easy thing to pass...,” he added.

Council members Bobby Davis and Poiette McGill-Bromell voted against both ordinances, opposing the fee increases. Davis also voted against the budget and the milage increase.

Council approved final reading of an ordinance to set milage that would raise funds and adopted the budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.

According to a budget proposal from the City of Marion, the approved budget totals $7,782,898, an increase from the 2008-09 budget, which was $6,009,112.

Council unanimously approved final reading of an ordinance to adopt the hospitality tax budget for the city, totaling $ 448,000.

In other business, Council approved the bid for a lawn tractor from John Deer Sparrow and a dump trailer from bid from James Equipment out of Marion.