Jun 2022: Council Previews a $3.7M Budget as Ward 6 Seat Goes Vacant
City Manager Lee Bailey previewed a 2022-23 budget of just over $3.7 million, with a new police officer, three police vehicles, a website overhaul and an 18% rise in healthcare costs. A special election was set for Aug. 9 after Ward 6 Councilman Scott Dickard resigned.
The Woodruff Times reported on June 1, 2022 on the Woodruff City Council's May meeting.
Preliminary budget: City Manager Lee Bailey introduced a proposed 2022-23 budget of just over $3.7 million. Staff were still finalizing figures while waiting on prices affected by inflation. Highlights included a new police officer position, three new police vehicles, an overhaul of the city website, a new streets department employee, a new mower, and an 18% increase in healthcare costs. Bailey described the budget as conservative and within the city's projected revenue. (The final budget, adopted in June at just over $4 million, is covered in a separate story.)
Zoning ordinance: Council approved first reading of a revision to the conditional-use permit section of the zoning ordinance so that it complies with state law.
Public comment: Two residents addressed council. One urged caution about growth and road capacity near recently approved heavy-industrial zoning at Highways 101 and 418, and encouraged a focus on filling vacant downtown buildings with small businesses. A representative of the Stone Soup Storytelling Institute announced "Juneteenth in the 'Ruff" at MUSE 134 on June 24-25, in partnership with the Bid Whist Society of South Carolina.
Ward 6 vacancy: Councilman Scott Dickard, who represented Ward 6, resigned after moving outside the city limits. Spartanburg County scheduled a special election for August 9 to fill the rest of his four-year term, which began in November 2021.
Read the full report at The Woodruff Times (link below).