Wukela proposes millage increase to cover city's budget shortfall

FLORENCE — Florence city leaders continue to struggle with a decision on next year’s budget.

Mayor Stephen J. Wukela held a press conference Thursday morning informing media outlets of a potential tax increase, which would provide funding for a new fire department and additional police officers.

He is proposing a 2-percent millage increase over the next two years to offset the additional expenses.

“I felt it was incumbent upon me to explain to the people of the city what the decision was,” Wukela said.

Wukela said the city’s budget is basically divided into two parts: an operating budget and a capital expense budget. Through cuts, Wukela said, city officials have made up for a $2.1 million shortfall in the operating budget, but the capital expense budget still lacks a substantial amount of funding.

Proposed capital expenses for the upcoming year include the construction of a new fire station as well as funding for additional firefighters and equipment; funding for 15 additional police officers and related expenses; operation of a new tennis facility and operation costs for the humane society. The police department originally requested 18 additional officers, but expenses for three of those have been met through a grant.

Florence resident Mike Gause said he questions the timing of Wukela’s millage increase proposal.

“As far as the tax increase, I’m not sure if that would benefit Florence right now. I don’t think now is the time,” Gause said.

Florence resident Jerrica Davis agreed.

“I feel it may be a good idea, but not (with) how the economy is right now,” Davis said. “I don’t think it would help at all. I think it would make things worse.”

Wukela said a tax increase is the only way the new projects could be funded.

He said it won’t affect many people’s wallets in a big way, only on their automobiles, rental and business properties.

“I don’t revel in increasing anyone’s taxes, but it seems to me that the $1 a month or $5 a month on business property alone in order to fund — by everyone’s agreement — critical fire and police needs is not unreasonable,” Wukela said.

Gause said he’s for increased police protection, but thinks the new fire station can wait.

“I don’t believe we need a new fire station. We might could use some more manpower, I believe we could use some more police (on the) force,” he said.

Wukela said city council members will discuss the budget again Monday during a special meeting. The meeting will be at 4 p.m. in Florence City-County Complex Room 605, 180 N. Irby St. For more information, call Dianne Rowan, clerk to council, at (843) 665-3113.

The budget must be approved and in place by July 1 or city operations will cease.

— Morning News Copy Editor Traci Bridges contributed to this report.

If You’re Going
What: Special Florence City Council meeting
When: 4 p.m. Monday
Where: Florence City-County Complex Room 605, 180 N. Irby St.
Info: Call Dianne Rowan, clerk to council, at (843) 665-3113

Council meetings to be shown live on Internet

Video of Florence City Council meetings will be stream live on the Internet via UStream.tv. The Web address is http://www.ustream.tv/cityofflorence. The city also has placed a link to the live video site in the City Note section of the homepage of its Web site, www.cityofflorence.com.

Florence staff have been testing the streaming process internally, and council’s special meeting at 4 p.m. Monday will be the first live video streamed to the public.

The city intends to offer archived copies of meetings on the Internet once the process is finalized.