Greenville City Council outlines priorities, community investments in upcoming budget
Greenville City Council members are outlining the priorities and investments that are included in the proposed upcoming budget. City council held its first reading of the more than $291 million budget Monday night. “Public safety is at the forefront of this year’s budget,” council member Wil Brasington said. “When you think about looking after and strengthening and really equipping and caring for our police, our fire, all of our public safety apparatus, that’s really front and center with this year’s budget.”Brasington said the budget includes four additional police officers, six additional firefighters as well as additional funding to replace the existing Stone Avenue fire station.Officials said the upcoming proposed budget does not include a millage or tax increase. However, city leaders said the solid waste fee will increase by $3 per month, while the stormwater and wastewater base monthly fees will increase by 3.1%. “Without public safety, nothing else works,” council member John DeWorken said. “Economic development doesn’t work. Tourism doesn’t work. Downtowns don’t work. Neighborhoods don’t work. Parks don’t work.”Along with investments in public safety, council members said the proposed budget includes investments in traffic management, such as the city’s Intelligent Transportation Systems.”ITS is a system that helps synchronize things like traffic lights, helps ensure smoother traffic flow,” Brasington said. “That goes hand-in-hand with traffic safety. If it’s flowing smoothly and properly, odds are that your safety profile on the roadways will be enhanced.”DeWorken said people can expect additional funding to help pave more roads, improve bridges and pedestrian safety.”We know that we want our citizens to be able to not only drive around safely but also to be able to run, cycle, walk, go for a stroll,” he said. Brasington said a master plan for Pleasantburg Drive is also included in the proposed budget’s funding. “You think all the way from north to south Pleasantburg, up near Cherrydale, running all the way down towards Augusta and Mauldin roads, that entire roadway is so important to utilize and think about how we can take a fresh look at what that should look like in the mid-21st century. That’s exciting to me,” Brasington said.
Greenville City Council members are outlining the priorities and investments that are included in the proposed upcoming budget.
City council held its first reading of the more than $291 million budget Monday night.
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“Public safety is at the forefront of this year’s budget,” council member Wil Brasington said. “When you think about looking after and strengthening and really equipping and caring for our police, our fire, all of our public safety apparatus, that’s really front and center with this year’s budget.”
Brasington said the budget includes four additional police officers, six additional firefighters as well as additional funding to replace the existing Stone Avenue fire station.
Officials said the upcoming proposed budget does not include a millage or tax increase.
However, city leaders said the solid waste fee will increase by $3 per month, while the stormwater and wastewater base monthly fees will increase by 3.1%.
“Without public safety, nothing else works,” council member John DeWorken said. “Economic development doesn’t work. Tourism doesn’t work. Downtowns don’t work. Neighborhoods don’t work. Parks don’t work.”
Along with investments in public safety, council members said the proposed budget includes investments in traffic management, such as the city’s Intelligent Transportation Systems.
“ITS is a system that helps synchronize things like traffic lights, helps ensure smoother traffic flow,” Brasington said. “That goes hand-in-hand with traffic safety. If it’s flowing smoothly and properly, odds are that your safety profile on the roadways will be enhanced.”
DeWorken said people can expect additional funding to help pave more roads, improve bridges and pedestrian safety.
“We know that we want our citizens to be able to not only drive around safely but also to be able to run, cycle, walk, go for a stroll,” he said.
Brasington said a master plan for Pleasantburg Drive is also included in the proposed budget’s funding.
“You think all the way from north to south Pleasantburg, up near Cherrydale, running all the way down towards Augusta and Mauldin roads, that entire roadway is so important to utilize and think about how we can take a fresh look at what that should look like in the mid-21st century. That’s exciting to me,” Brasington said.