"The city generated $850,000 in extra revenue from police ticketing this fiscal year, doubling its collections by taking in $1.7 million compared to $850,000 in 2004. The city doesn't budget ticket money until the year after it is collected, so the additional money will be available for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
"Tickets we write, code enforcement, police and traffic tickets, we saw a big increase in that revenue," said Santesia Henderson, the city treasurer.
The city also gained more than $240,000 from the Carolina Coastal Medical Center, which opened its doors near Sgt. Jasper Park in December.
Rather than a tax cut, the additional revenue will be used to maintain expanding service needs, like fire and police protection."
Hardeeville OKs budget, maintains tax rate
BY MICHAEL R. SHEA, The Beaufort GazettePublished Saturday, June 4th, 2005
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HARDEEVILLE -- There will be no new property taxes for Hardeeville residents next year ... again.
The Hardeeville City Council unanimously approved a $4.5 million city budget for 2006 on Thursday night that maintains a tax rate set in 2001. Revenues are on the rise even though the tax rate hasn't changed in five years, so the owner of a $100,000 house still can expect to pay around $390 in city property taxes, which includes a $200 local sales tax reduction.
The 2005 spending plan was for $3.8 million, around $800,000 less than the 2006 plan.
The city generated $850,000 in extra revenue from police ticketing this fiscal year, doubling its collections by taking in $1.7 million compared to $850,000 in 2004. The city doesn't budget ticket money until the year after it is collected, so the additional money will be available for the fiscal year that begins July 1.
"Tickets we write, code enforcement, police and traffic tickets, we saw a big increase in that revenue," said Santesia Henderson, the city treasurer.
The city also gained more than $240,000 from the Carolina Coastal Medical Center, which opened its doors near Sgt. Jasper Park in December.
Rather than a tax cut, the additional revenue will be used to maintain expanding service needs, like fire and police protection.
"We're keeping the services high and the taxes down," Mayor Rodney Cannon said after the meeting. "With the (staff) we have, working together, we can make a difference."
Of all the city departments, the police budget is the highest at $1.1 million, which supports a force of 18 people.
"We do not anticipate any new staff," Shane Haynes, the city administrator, said of the spending plan, which does not include any additional employees.
The city will hold a public hearing and final vote on the 2006 spending plan at 5 p.m. June 16 in council chambers at the Hardeeville Community Center.
Saturday, February 17, 2007
Another interesting article.
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5 comments:
""We do not anticipate any new staff," Shane Haynes, the city administrator, said" ...
..."Just a ridiculous pay rise for myself."
"the additional revenue will be used to maintain expanding service needs, like fire and police protection"...
..."but the vast majority will go to cover my exorbitant pay rise and a few backhanders coming from Santesia Henderson."
While eating lunch the other day I overheard two officers saying they wished they were on Corporal Pollen's team because he has said anyone on his team who writes over 200 tickets this month will be taken out for a steak dinner. So motorists beware! The next ticket you get may be the one needed for a steak dinner.
The whole reward thing was actually started by the lieutenant a while back.
nothing new about that.
There's a few things that need answering..such as if so much money was brought in because of ticket revenue..Why did Horton at one of the council meetings(2007-after the audit) mention that the city is operating on a tight budget? Especially when the total duties of the officers were to concentrate on (traffic control)ha..ha! (2004-a good year, 2005-a better year, 2006 & 2007 two great years as far as revenue) Another question: The citizens were told that most of the salaries paid to employees at City Hall were funded by the developers, example 1st Asst Manager's salary and apparently the 2nd Asst Manager..with one of the biggest developers going under(on news Nationwide) they went bankrupt..whose paying those salaries now? At least a dozen or more working out of City Hall..where is the money coming from or where will it come from in the future?..since Traditions Hilton Head only has about two residents on the grounds now... It's strange that at one point Traditions was advertised as being off 278 just east of I-95 going towards Hilton Head..no mention of Hardeeville..now its being broadcasted as Traditions Hilton Head.. still no mention of Hardeeville...they are so desperate they are giving away a HOUSE..could this be the HOUSE Team Leader will be moving in?
Ridgeland is growing and building by leaps and bounds..much more than Hardeeville..they have much more (roof tops) with people moving in than Hardeeville and only one City Manager/City Administrator... One Asst Manager did move from Walterboro and lives in Bluffton..the second still lives in Walterboro..both have take home vehicles..how lovely and inexpensive for them...do any of the taxpayers get to see these people in the stores, restaurants, Post Office, at church affairs to support the REAL people that support one another in the City of Hardeeville?
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