budget

Finance, Administration & Economic Development Committee met June 15 at 2:00 PM. Committee heard the year-to-date finance report, discussed corrective action for an auditor management letter, approved a five-year audit engagement, and moved three ordinances (2017 GO bond reallocation for Station 34, FY27 carryforwards, and ARPA reallocation) forward to County Council. No public commenters were present.

Port Royal Town Council met June 10, 2026. Council approved minutes, adopted the FY2026–27 budget and multiple ordinances (first and second readings), issued two proclamations (Carolina Days and Trails Month/Spanish Moss Trail), received presentations from Historic Port Royal Foundation, BJWSA, and staff on a new GIS project portal, addressed shrimp-dock and high‑use/moratorium policy topics, heard public safety and election-related public comments, reappointed a military enhancement committee representative, and entered executive session for the annual town manager evaluation.

Town Council meeting (Bluffton) on June 9, 2026: minutes adopted; proclamations for Juneteenth and Carolina Days; update on Beaufort County transportation 'penny' advisory committee; public comment on e-bikes, wetlands, road closures, and other local issues; unanimous approval of FY2027 consolidated budget; multiple ordinances/resolutions and funding decisions (including a four-way stop at Boundary & Lawrence, economic incentive for Sterling Helicopter, extension of due diligence for ~55.18-acre parcel, establishment of an Entertainment Venue Exploratory Work Group, first reading of wetland ordinance amendments, ATAX awards, contract for New Riverside disc golf, and DMO marketing plan); appointments made in executive session.

Council adopted the FY2027 consolidated budget (5–1), approved the DMO marketing plan/budget/metrics (5–1), authorized multiple property transactions to enable relocation of St. James Baptist Church and Cherry Hill School, approved wetlands impact documents for Patterson Family Park, renamed Squar Pope Community Park to “Hilton Head Island Fishing Cooperative Park,” approved town legal services contracts, and completed multiple board reappointments. (See source_notes in key_decisions & agenda_items.)

City Council regular meeting (June 9, 2026). Council approved the FY27 consolidated budget and tax levy, multiple proclamations and event requests, sale of city property at 2153 Boundary Street, a number of resolutions and authorizations (including waterfront option two RFQ and Duke Streetscape contract authorization), several board appointments, a 5% adjustment to the city manager's compensation, and moved into executive session. Public commenters addressed a regional single-use plastics ordinance, trails and sports/recreation, budget priorities (waterfront, strategic partners), and questions about the city manager's compensation and evaluation.

Beaufort County Board of Education regular meeting (hybrid) on June 9, 2026: agenda approved (including late addition of a nomination); CLOC (construction/finance) update; committee reports (Academics, Finance); Superintendent/Student Services presentations and BCSD University outreach; multiple recognitions/points of celebration; future agenda topics captured; public comments; executive session for personnel and legal matters followed by motions approving personnel ratification, denying an employee grievance request, and recalling remaining TIF funds from the City of Beaufort.

Beaufort County Council met June 8, 2026. Council handled agenda/minutes, three proclamations, recognitions, multiple public comments, a business-license appeal by St. Francis Center (council granted relief), Green Space acquisition items (Broad Creek Marina remanded to Green Space; New River Forest postponed to June 22), several ordinance votes (plastics ban, waterways amendments, community development amendments, parks fees, TSA lease, drainage easements), the County and School budgets (both adopted with amendments), and a transportation sales-tax referendum ordinance as amended.

Town of Port Royal Budget Workshop #3 (2026). Staff presented a balanced FY27 draft budget totaling roughly $11.81M with no millage increase, proposed use of ~50% of expired TIF funds to cover a ~ $358,747 shortfall from property tax exemptions, reviewed personnel cost increases and several fee/revenue and reserve matters. Council asked questions; staff identified next steps for fee reviews and potential service fees. (No motions or formal votes recorded.)

Town of Port Royal council workshop (June 3, 2026) included a public hearing on four sidewalk conveyance ordinances, a presentation from the Old Village Association about upcoming events and a selfie-station sponsorship, project briefings (streetscape, sewer/grant work, splash pad, Sands Beach amenities, shrimp dock/process facility, stormwater planning, Safe Harbor/MCIP, potential fire service fee, marina master plan), discussion of the statewide property-tax-exemption issue and a request to place a multifamily moratorium on next week's agenda. Public comment included a local business raffle request for July 4th celebrations.

Town of Port Royal council workshop and public hearing (June 3, 2026): four sidewalk conveyance ordinances were opened for public comment (no speakers); presentations from Old Village Association and Alpha Graphics (Taste Around the World festival, Sept 26, and proposal to sponsor six permanent 'selfie stations'); staff briefings covering multiple capital projects (Paris Avenue streetscape, splash pad, Sands Beach causeway improvements, shrimp dock RFP, stormwater CIP/MS4, Safe Harbor/MCIP/TIF discussion), discussion of state property tax exemption 'loophole' prompting possible moratorium on multifamily development, and multiple upcoming community events. One public comment from Shannon Baltziger (Stone Works fundraiser/raffle) was received.

Budget Workshop Meeting of the Town of Bluffton on May 28, 2026: meeting called to order at 5:00 PM; no public comment; staff reviewed carryover budget items and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) fund topics for FY27; workshop adjourned at 5:45 PM. Minutes signed by Town Clerk and Mayor.

City of Beaufort City Council regular meeting held May 12, 2026. Council (Mayor Philip Cromer; Councilmembers Neil Lipsitz, Michael McFee, Mitch Mitchell, Josh Scallate) heard presentations and public comment, approved routine consent items and minutes, adopted amendments to the Noise Ordinance (second reading), approved several ordinances on second reading, held a public hearing and first reading of the FY2027 consolidated budget (including multiple amendments), approved sale of city property (first reading) at 2153 Boundary Street, made Downtown Advisory Board appointments, and moved into executive session before adjourning.

City Council meeting called to order at 7:21 PM. Council members present: Philip Cromer (Mayor), Neil Lipsitz, Michael McFee (Mayor Pro Tem), Mitch Mitchell, and Josh Scallate. Multiple routine items were approved (agenda, proclamations, consent agenda, minutes, several ordinances, and adjournment). Council approved a resolution to purchase a parcel at 32 Burton Hill Road by a 4-1 vote (Councilman Scallate voted against).