City To Impose Capacity Fees On New Infrastructure
Newberry City Council held a public hearing and second reading Tuesday to pass second and final reading of an ordinance to impose and collect an impact fee for water and wastewater utilities.
Water and sewer capacity fees are one-time fees that apply to new connections to the City of Newberry’s water and sewer systems to help fund the new infrastructure necessary to meet increasing demand for those water and sewer services.
Because it is expensive to expand utilities to accommodate new growth, City Manager Jason Taylor said capacity fees are put in place so that every new development that comes into place pays that fee so that it’s not a burden on existing citizens.
City staff recommended a capacity fee of $1,000 for water and $2,500 for sewer connections. These fees would be charged to new construction wishing to be added onto the city’s utility system.
With no one speaking in favor or opposition of the ordinance during the public hearing, it was adjourned. A motion was made by Councilperson Jackie Holmes and seconded by Councilperson David DuBose to approve second reading.
New Business
Under new business, Mayor Foster Senn shared an update on a potential grant opportunity through the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). Senn said DOT had set aside money to improve rural roads with a $25 million grant.
Areas the city would focus on would include the intersections of Main Street at Wilson Road, Main Street at Winnsboro Road, Adelaide at Wilson Road and other potential intersections.
Taylor shared with council that the consultant the city was working with felt they had a good project.
The city would need to provide a 10% match, to which Taylor said they had approached several entities for potential funding assistance.
Budget Work Session
Taylor then presented a brief overview of the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to City Council sharing that this year’s proposed budget is balanced at $79,483,403. This includes all funds combined (general fund, utilities and special funds).
“This is down a little from last year,” Taylor said.
The general fund proposed budget, Taylor said, includes a 3 mill increase to taxes and a $3 garbage rate increase, from $17 to $20 per household.
Taylor shared millage rates from other cities including Gaffney, Laurens, Clinton, Chapin and Lancaster and that Newberry was currently in the bottom third in comparison with the proposed millage increase.
A chart was shared with council including examples of home values (ranging from $75,000 – $300,000) and with the proposed 3 mill increase, the average homeowner could see an estimated $9-36 per year increase, dependent on the value of their home.
The proposed budget also includes a 2% cost of living adjustment for all employees as well as half of the compression adjustments that were recommended by the city’s human resources department.
The compression adjustments, Taylor said, comes from supervisors among city staff that are currently making less than those they supervise.
Significant things not proposed in this budget include a police car, the façade grants, the city’s contribution to the fire training grounds, and new employees requested by various departments.
From the utilities department, proposed increases of 3% on electricity, 2.5% on water and 5% on sewer are included in the 2025-2026 budget. Taylor shared that these services, specifically water and sewer were costly for the city to operate and although increasing, the rates would still remain competitive with other entities.
City Council and staff will discuss the proposed budget in further detail on Wednesday, April 30 at 5 p.m. and Thursday, May 1 at 5 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public and will take place in the council chambers of City Hall.
Newberry City Council held a public hearing and second reading Tuesday to pass second and final reading of an ordinance to impose and collect an impact fee for water and wastewater utilities.
Water and sewer capacity fees are one-time fees that apply to new connections to the City of Newberry’s water and sewer systems to help fund the new infrastructure necessary to meet increasing demand for those water and sewer services.
Because it is expensive to expand utilities to accommodate new growth, City Manager Jason Taylor said capacity fees are put in place so that every new development that comes into place pays that fee so that it’s not a burden on existing citizens.
City staff recommended a capacity fee of $1,000 for water and $2,500 for sewer connections. These fees would be charged to new construction wishing to be added onto the city’s utility system.
With no one speaking in favor or opposition of the ordinance during the public hearing, it was adjourned. A motion was made by Councilperson Jackie Holmes and seconded by Councilperson David DuBose to approve second reading.
New Business
Under new business, Mayor Foster Senn shared an update on a potential grant opportunity through the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT). Senn said DOT had set aside money to improve rural roads with a $25 million grant.
Areas the city would focus on would include the intersections of Main Street at Wilson Road, Main Street at Winnsboro Road, Adelaide at Wilson Road and other potential intersections.
Taylor shared with council that the consultant the city was working with felt they had a good project.
The city would need to provide a 10% match, to which Taylor said they had approached several entities for potential funding assistance.
Budget Work Session
Taylor then presented a brief overview of the proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 budget to City Council sharing that this year’s proposed budget is balanced at $79,483,403. This includes all funds combined (general fund, utilities and special funds).
“This is down a little from last year,” Taylor said.
The general fund proposed budget, Taylor said, includes a 3 mill increase to taxes and a $3 garbage rate increase, from $17 to $20 per household.
Taylor shared millage rates from other cities including Gaffney, Laurens, Clinton, Chapin and Lancaster and that Newberry was currently in the bottom third in comparison with the proposed millage increase.
A chart was shared with council including examples of home values (ranging from $75,000 – $300,000) and with the proposed 3 mill increase, the average homeowner could see an estimated $9-36 per year increase, dependent on the value of their home.
The proposed budget also includes a 2% cost of living adjustment for all employees as well as half of the compression adjustments that were recommended by the city’s human resources department.
The compression adjustments, Taylor said, comes from supervisors among city staff that are currently making less than those they supervise.
Significant things not proposed in this budget include a police car, the façade grants, the city’s contribution to the fire training grounds, and new employees requested by various departments.
From the utilities department, proposed increases of 3% on electricity, 2.5% on water and 5% on sewer are included in the 2025-2026 budget. Taylor shared that these services, specifically water and sewer were costly for the city to operate and although increasing, the rates would still remain competitive with other entities.
City Council and staff will discuss the proposed budget in further detail on Wednesday, April 30 at 5 p.m. and Thursday, May 1 at 5 p.m. Both meetings are open to the public and will take place in the council chambers of City Hall.
