City council unanimously approved hiring Robert Milhous to provide a detailed analysis by doing an audit of the hospitality tax fund.

This action was taken after an hour-long executive session and stemmed from information provided by Wes Park at the March meeting.

Ron King, former economic development director and community citizen, spoke about his concerns with the city’s use of the hospitality tax during public comments.

He said while serving as Marlboro County Economic director, he was acutely aware of the importance of the image of Bennettsville as the county seat. He said the condition of the entryways into the city and to downtown are critical as to the impression that the city gives businesses, industrial prospects, as well as people and new residents coming into town. “And we would expect the tourism monies to be spent to improve the conditions so that more people, more businesses and more industries are interested,” he said. “It is apparent for lack of public investment in the entryways and in our downtown over the last 10 to 15 years.”

He talked about the public neglect in the form of boarded up windows, collapsed roofs, missing and torn awnings, and a hodgepodge of trash receptacles, street furnishings and lights.

“And particularly the alleyways that give businesses rear access to their buildings are disgraceful,” King said. “I don’t know if you’ve spent time looking at them, but they are in terrible condition.” King suggested city officials look at Hartsville because it is the same size as Bennettsville.

“And if you looked at Hartsville 15 or 20 years ago, and Bennettsville 15 or 20 years ago, we look very similar,” he said. “But today, we don’t.”

King told council that they had a fiduciary responsibility to the people they serve and a responsibility to spend the hospitality tax money in the way that is designated by state statute.

“And I would encourage all of you to continue with your efforts to have the audit done, and then appropriately address whatever those findings are,” he said. In other business, the council did not approve the first reading of the FY 2022-23 budget. The vote was 3-3-1. Mayor Carolyn Prince and council members Allen Taylor and Wanda Weaver voted yes while Gregory Scott, Tyrone Davis and Jean Quick voted no. Tyron Abraham abstained from voting.

The combined budget is $24,272,907, which is $26,135 less than the current budget.

City Administrator Max Alderman said the budget reflected the continuing trend of no new revenue and flat growth combined with increasing expenditures. Departmental requests were adjusted to reflect actual costs for the previous year. A sanitation fee increase and electric design rate adjustment plus ARPA funding of the transfer to the capital plans were required to balance the revenue with expenditures.

The General Fund revenue is $7,143,325 and is $201,525 greater than the current budget. A $3 increase in the sanitation fee is included to balance expenditures with revenue.

Alderman said the expenditures are balanced with revenue with the pay plan maintained and 1.23% cost of living included. The transfer from the Enterprise Fund is maintained at $1.7 million. Expenditures increased by $201,525 with a net increase in police, fire and public works of $432,369 offset by decreases in debt service and other departments.

The projected Enterprise Fund revenue is $16,681,582 or $242,660 less than the current year budget. Alderman said this is a result of projected decreases in water, sewer, late fees and penalty sales.

The electric design rate is adjusted to .0443 to balance expenditures with revenue and the minimum residential water rate is increased by 50 cents to fund the utility plants operator B and C pay grade adjustments.

Alderman said the Enterprise Fund expenditures are balanced with projected revenue and include a 1.23% cost of living adjustment. The pay grade increase from 20 to 23, the operators B and C pay grades are adjusted from 17 and 16 to 20 and 19 respectively.

The business/tourism fund increased from $83,000 to $84,000.

After Alderman’s presentation, Taylor said he wanted the public to know that passing the budget doesn’t mean it is set in stone.

“We can come back at any time and make an amendment,” he said.

Taylor added certain allegations that are being made and it was found necessary to do a forensic audit that they had voted on earlier.

“And if we decide to move forward with the first reading and approve it, it can be changed,” Taylor said. “And if something is found, it will be amended and fixed. And if not, then we can move forward.”

After the first reading not being passed, Taylor wanted the public and council to know the proposed budget will go into effect anyway even if no decision is made.

“If Council doesn’t make a decision, his (Alderman’s) proposed budget goes into effect anyway until we make a decision,” Taylor said.

In other business,

– Council approved second reading and passage of an ordinance rezoning 117 First Avenue.

– Council approved the first reading of an ordinance to adopt special property tax assessments for rehabilitated historic properties.

– Council approved the Fair Housing Resolution.

– Council approved changing the current mandatory face mask policy in all city and public buildings to voluntary. It was approved 5-2. Scott and Davis voted no.

– Council approved $1,500 in additional ARPA premium pay to all previously eligible employees. The money would be paid through payroll.

– City employees celebrating work anniversaries in April are Heather Hair, finance, 21 years; Elaine German, police, 12 years, and Kevin Miller, police, five years.

The entire April 19 meeting of the Bennettsville City Council can be found on the City of Bennettsville-Government and City Service Facebook page.