City of North Myrtle Beach

3 days ago

CITY COUNCIL FISCAL YEAR 2021 BUDGET RETREAT MEETING IS FEBRUARY 24-25

The North Myrtle Beach City Council will hold its fiscal year 2021 budget retreat meeting February 24-25 at Santee Cooper’s Wampee Conference Center, 2213 Pinopolis Road, Pinopolis, SC 29469. The budget retreat meeting is open to the public.

City Council will formally open its two-day budget retreat meeting on February 24 at 8:00 a.m. at City Hall and will then immediately travel to Pinopolis to continue the meeting and discuss the City’s proposed budget. The meeting will end after City Council has completed its budget discussions on February 25.

The City’s fiscal year is July 1-June 30. First reading of the proposed fiscal year budget ordinance usually occurs in May.

BUDGET RETREAT SCHEDULE

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 24
8:00am - Depart for Pinopolis
10:15-10:45 - Arrive
10:45-12:00 - Budget Overview
12:00pm-1:00 - Lunch
1:00-2:00 - Budget Overview
2:00-2:45 - Public Works Projects
2:45-3:00 - City Entrance Signs
3:00-3:30 - Break
3:30-4:15 - Executive Session (Potential land acquisition)
4:15-4:30 - City Websites/Mobile App
4:30-5:00 - NMB Park & Sports Complex Expansion
5:00-5:15 - Emergency Operations Center & Data Center Projects
5:15-6:00 - Free Time
6:00-7:00 - Dinner

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 25
7:45am-9:00 - Breakfast
9:00-11:30 - Priority Setting/Review
12:00-1:00 - Lunch, Adjournment, Return Home

SOME BUDGET INITIATIVES FOR FY 2021

-- The proposed budget involves 17 separate funds with significant interrelations and transfers between the various funds.

-- The proposed FY 2021 budget is about $119 million, an increase of about $27 million over the FY 2020 budget.

-- The budget proposes a property tax increase of about 7.9 mils with which to expand the North Myrtle Beach Park & Sports Complex. Using a two-year short-term loan, the City paid $4.2 million for the 96 acres. Part of the revenue generated by the proposed millage increase would pay off the short-term loan. A multi-year bond issue would then fund construction of the new playing fields and other amenities. City Council has indicated that the proposed millage increase of 7.9 mils would decrease by the same amount after retiring the bond. Council took that approach with the millage increase that helped fund the original Park & Sports Complex.

-- The City’s current property tax rate is 37.1 mils. The City reduced its millage rate by 6.1 mils for FY 2020 to reflect the end of the eight-year bond issue with which the City purchased 162 acres and constructed the original Park & Sports Complex. Since opening in March 2014, the facility has generated over $100 million in new, direct revenue for the North Myrtle Beach economy, primarily in the off-season. Since it opened, the facility has attracted over two million visitors. The expanded facility would enable the City to compete for and host larger sports tourism events, and to host multiple events simultaneously. It would also position the City to provide continued opportunities for its growing youth and adult recreation leagues.)

-- The proposed budget includes beginning construction of the 18th Avenue North Ocean Outfall beginning in fall 2020. By delaying outfall construction, the City is able to accomplish the estimated $14 million project ($12 million City and $2 million state) without borrowing funds. Smaller stormwater drainage projects are also included in the proposed budget.

-- The proposed budget provides initial funding for an Emergency Operations Center (EOC) and a Data Management Center on the west side of the Intracoastal Waterway. These facilities would share the site of a new fire station, the latter coming on line several years from now. The EOC would provide the City with a facility from which to manage impacts from hurricanes Category 3 and stronger. It would also enable all staff to manage a storm from one location. The Data Center would provide the City with added redundancy and a secure location in the event a major hurricane compromises infrastructure located east of the Waterway.

-- Financially speaking, Phase I of the Cherry Grove Canals Dredging Project ends in FY 2021. Phase II is being evaluated.

-- Equipment replacement for departments continues on a pay-as-you-go basis.

-- Under the proposed budget, the year-end balance for the General Fund would be about $12.5 million, above the 35% fund balance policy.

-- Funding for Beach Renourishment will come from state accommodations tax funds.

-- The proposed budget projects Beach Services showing a profit and net equity in excess of $1.2 million at the close of the FY 2021 budget cycle.

-- The employee Pay-for-Performance matrix remains the same as for FY 2020.

-- General Obligation debt remains at $0 until issuance of the proposed Park Improvement Bonds occurs.

-- The City does not propose rate increases in its Water & Sewer Fund, except for any pass-through rate change from Grand Strand Water & Sewer Authority.

-- Discussion of significant water, sewer and road projects will occur at the budget retreat.

-- For FY 2021, the Accommodations Tax Committee (A-Tax Committee) received funding requests totaling $9.7 million. It is the A-Tax Committee’s job to review funding requests and recommend to City Council those to fund and at what level, using the actual $4.1 million in tax revenue projected for FY 2021. At the budget retreat, City Council will review the A-Tax Committee’s recommendations and approve all recommendations or redirect some funding. ... See MoreSee Less

City of North Myrtle Beach

5 days ago

ONE OPENING LEFT IN THE FREE NORTH MYRTLE BEACH CITIZENS ACADEMY

There is one opening left in the free February 27-April North Myrtle Beach Citizens Academy.

If you are interested, call Micki Fellner at 843-280-5507 or email her at mcfellner@nmb.us.

The Citizens Academy exposes participants to all facets of North Myrtle Beach government and includes tours of key City facilities.

The first meeting is Thursday, February 27, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. at City Hall, 1018 Second Avenue South.

The schedule for 2020 North Myrtle Beach Citizens Academy meetings is as follows:

-- February 27, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Focus on City Manager, an overview of major projects, current issues facing the City and Finance. Tour of the City’s public safety facility.

-- March 5, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Focus on Public Works Department – water, wastewater, streets, stormwater, and sanitation. Tour of the pump station and water tank facilities at Little River Neck Road and tour of the water tank facility at Main Street.

-- March 12, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Continued focus on Public Works Department – water, wastewater, streets, stormwater, and sanitation, support services. Tour of the solid waste transfer station and wastewater treatment plant.

-- March 19, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Focus on Parks & Recreation Department – athletics, sports tourism, grounds maintenance, programs, events, Aquatics & Fitness Center, Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful, beach services. Tour of the Aquatic & Fitness Center.

-- March 26, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Continued focus on Parks & Recreation – athletics, sports tourism, grounds maintenance, programs, events, Aquatics & Fitness Center, Keep North Myrtle Beach Beautiful, beach services. Tour of NMB Park & Sports Complex.

-- April 2, 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m. – Focus on Public Information, Planning & Zoning, Human Resources, and Information Technology Departments.

-- Graduation Ceremony – Occurs during the April 20 City Council Meeting. ... See MoreSee Less