Fiscal year welcomed with balanced, robust budget

By Alan Perry CONTRIBUTOR

The Town’s new fiscal year (FY) started July 1. That’s when our new consolidated budget went into effect. We started the 2023 calendar year planning for the budget and ironing out details with Town Manager Marc Orlando.

The result is a FY2024 consolidated budget of $129.95 million that funds robust investment in the community without increasing property taxes.

Ken Horup

Amber Linaburg

Alan Perry

Larry Stoller

William Ward

Mark F. Winn

Tim Wood

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Here are five things to know about the FY2024 budget:

1. It builds on our commitment to promote safe and healthy neighborhoods that foster a strong sense of community and facilitate a thriving business climate. It reflects our desire to achieve operational excellence in Town government and ensures that every cent we invest enhances our community’s livelihood, supports our public services, and fosters economic growth.

2. The consolidated budget includes six funds. The Capital Projects Fund of $39.9 million funds work that will enhance our quality of life. Priority projects are: Pathway Program, $4,810,000, and Roadway Program, $6,204,465, to improve the safety and function of our corridors through roadway, pathway, and intersection enhancements and beautification; Beach Program, $4,556,000, to further enhance access to the beach, prepare for renourishment in FY2025, and improve parking facilities and controls; Park Program, $9,129,500, to revitalize Town parks through investment in sport facilities, leisure amenities and parking; and Facility & Equipment Program, $6,563,969; and Fleet Program, $8,329,420, to provide the fleet, facility, and equipment resources needed to serve the community’s needs including replacement of fire apparatus and other public safety equipment.

Our Stormwater Utility Fund of $5.8 million provides resources to protect our island from flooding, repair and maintain vital stormwater infrastructure, protect watersheds, and sustain our water quality.

Our Debt Service Fund of $17.3 million accounts for accumulation of resources for the payment of interest and principal on general long-term debt obligations and special revenue debt obligations.

The General Fund of $57.9 million accounts for and reports the financial resources for the Town’s primary operating fund. This fund enables the Town to match staffing levels with the performance required to deliver results consistent with our core values.

3. Two of the six funds are new additions to our budget: the Housing Fund of $3.3 million and the Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation Fund of $5.3 million.

Letter to the Editor

The Housing Fund is earmarked for implementation of the Town Council adopted Workforce Housing Framework, called Finding Home, which addresses the island’s workforce housing needs; supports the launch of the Northpoint Public Private Partnership, fund land acquisition, and pays the Town’s dues in the Beaufort-Jasper Housing Trust. More exciting news about these initiatives will be released soon so stayed tuned. The Community Development Corporation money will support its startup and community investment through revitalization of economic opportunity and quality of life for our historic neighborhoods.

4. Our priority-based budget is aligned with our new strategic action plan. The Strategic Action Plan defines our vision for the community over the next two fiscal years. It is purposefully aligned with the goals identified in Our Plan, the Town’s comprehensive plan, and articulates what we need to accomplish to realize our vision for the Island.

5. You can dig deeper into our FY2024 consolidated budget and get updates on our Strategic Action Plan through our website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov. Also, follow the Town on Facebook, YouTube, and LinkedIn for updates.

Alan Perry is the mayor of the Town of Hilton Head Island. AlanP@hiltonheadislandsc.gov

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To the Editor:

Just a quick note to say how much I enjoyed Lynne Hummell’s most recent editorial (June 18).

I, too, had the most wonderful childhood. As an only child, I had hours to myself to find my own fun. I’d explore the woods behind us on other side of the little brook that ran along our home, and huge fields beyond our back yard. I would run through the tall wheat (or whatever it was) for hours with our collie.

There weren’t enough hours in the day in summer.

To this day, I can smell the grass and different flora/fauna around our home. I can taste the lemonade made by Mom (from the little cans that went into the freezer, both the yellow and pink!)

I remember vividly the watermelon dripping down my chin. A few years of summer camp. The summer trips with Mom and Dad. Lying in bed at night hearing the crickets outside (there was no central air just a window fan).

My swimming was in backyard little blowup blue pool when I was little. The rest of our swims were at the Jersey shore – either the ocean or on Metedeconk River, down the slope from my aunt’s house, where I’d spend endless hours catching tiny black eels in a can. I loved rowing my aunt’s boat all around, with her daughter who was about four years older than I was. Sleeping in bunk beds there, listening to the gentle lapping of waves coming up onto the beach.

Bike riding, tree climbing – the sky was the limit, wasn’t it?

And oh yes, those lightning bugs – kept in those jars with holes in the lids!

How lucky were we?!

Barbara Costa Bluffton