West Columbia, SC 06/20/2022 (Paul Kirby) – The City of West Columbia’s mayor and council will meet tonight, Monday, June 20, 2022, at the West Columbia City Hall to consider a Municipal Tax increase for the 2022/2023 budget year. The meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:00 p.m. Municipal taxes are taxes levied by towns and cities and should not be confused with other taxes on your annual tax bill. Those may include school operations and bonds, Lexington County taxes for the services they provide, or a tax for special purpose districts like the Lexington County Recreation and Aging Commission.
According to the city, they need number of things that includes a building and several new employee positions. At this point, they simply don’t believe they have the funds on hand to cover these without the increase to their citizens’ property taxes.
The new items and positions that are listed on their budget request includes the following:
A plan reviewer for the Planning and Zoning Department. Total cost of that position with its included benefits is listed at $75,000.
They also say they need to hire 2 new dispatchers. Total cost of these positions with their included benefits is $124,500.
The Sanitation Department has recently acquired new equipment. They need a driver and equipment operator III to staff this equipment which will cost them $126,000 per year in salaries and benefits.
They also feel they need to add a new mechanic for their Fleet Services. That position would also cost $70,000 per year for the mechanic’s salary and benefits.
Additionally, Fleet Service also has requested an additional large bay be added onto their existing facility to accommodate larger pieces of equipment that come in for services. The estimated one-time cost of this would be $300,00.0.
Finally, they have been asked to supply the funds for 2 equipment operator 11 positions. The document we were given did not specify which department these two new people would work for. Their total annual salaries and benefits would cost the city $106,000.
The only expense that was requested that is non-recurring is the bay to service the large equipment in. All positions are expected to be need from the day of hire forward.
According to Karen Blizzard, a vocal opponent of the tax hike being considered, if this passes, it will be the 3rd such increase in the past 6 years. In referring to the city’s leaders, Blizzard, who lives in District 1, said, “They are tone deaf to even ask for more money in light of this terrible economy the worse in 40 years. There is no end to increases in gas prices, food prices, energy prices, and our water bill goes up every single year that was built into the budget in 2016.”
In order to be as transparent as possible, the city has published a graphic that explains each need to the public. That is printed below.
If the tax increase passes, Councilman Mike Green said it would increase the Municipal Taxes on a home valued at $100,000 by approximately $30 per year. Green said he was opposed to the increase because of the pain that all Americans are feeling right now when they deal with the higher cost of gasoline, groceries, utilities, and just about everything else.
You have an opportunity to show your own opposition or support for this tax increase by attending the meeting tonight at 6:00 p.m. The West Columbia City Hall is located at 200 N 12th St, West Columbia, SC 29169. You could also contact your council representative by telephone. Each of their names and numbers are listed here.
Mayor Tem Miles, Mayor, 803-351-8754
Mike Green, District 1, 803-563-8085
Trevor Bedell, District 2, 803-331-4866
Casey Hallman, District 3, 803-413-1187
Joseph Dickey, District 4, 803-760-6726
Mickey Pringle, District 5, 803-467-1357
Jimmy Brooks, District 6, 864-630-9854
Erin Porter, District 7, 803-807-0574
David Moye, District 8, 803-470-6199-
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