Council Proposes $3.4M Budget

Much of Fund Targets Employee Pay, Inspections, Rent and Legal Services

By Sophia Rodriguez

The Post and Courier

Thursday, June 19, 2008

James Island Town Council has proposed a $3.38 million budget, its second since the town incorporated in late 2006.

The current draft of the 2008-09 budget shows the town expects about $1.6 million in general expenditures and about $1.7 in operating expenditures. Those figures compare with $1.87 million and $1 million, respectively, budgeted for the current fiscal year. The final version of the budget is to be presented June 24.

Much of the money in the general fund will be spent on employee salaries and building inspections, and the lion's share of operating expenditures is earmarked for rent for Town Hall and legal services.

"We're trying to be conservative on the revenue, liberal on the expenses," said town planning consultant Roy DeHaven at a May 27 meeting.

Projected income and revenue for the coming fiscal year is estimated at $3.47 million; projected spending is $3.38 million.

Reimbursement amounts have been cut considerably from last year's budget. Mayor Mary Clark's expense reimbursement allotment has been cut from $2,400 to $1,000, and council reimbursement has been cut from $4,000 to $400. As of the meeting, a little less than $1,900 had been spent on council reimbursement.

As the town establishes itself as a separate entity from the city of Charleston for a third time, certain items in the budget reflect expanded services. Salaries for a disaster and emergency planner, finance clerk and planning administrator are reflected in the 2008-09 fiscal year for the first time since the town incorporated. Clark has always been a strong proponent of a disaster and emergency coordinator.

"We're a town just starting up. … I thought that a disaster and emergency person would be a good person to have," Clark said.

The services of the Kernodle Law Firm have doubled between the current budget and next year. Clark said that was due to the ongoing legal battle between the town of James Island and the city of Charleston.

"Each time we get a town, we have to defend ourselves … and our right to be a town. We have to fight the city with the best lawyers we can get," she said.

Reach Sophia Rodriguez at 937-5538.