The city of Mauldin is proposing raising property taxes for the first time in more than a decade. City Administrator Seth Duncan said the city is investing into public safety, transportation and its services. He said it is needed due to growth and inflation.”Government’s not immune to inflation or increases across the board, and unfortunately, our growth rate, although significant, has not outpaced those other factors,” Duncan said.Duncan said the average home in the city could see around $50 added to their yearly taxes. The proposed tax increase is the first in 15 years. The budget passed first reading at the city council meeting on Monday. It could pay for more public works employees, funding for Greenlink Route 601 and four more police officers to create a traffic unit. “I think it would be a good thing as long as we’re going to get the extra cops and all the other stuff that they say we’re going to get,” Mauldin resident Kay Wilbanks said. Wilbanks added the extra police officers are needed to cut down on speeding drivers in her area. “There’s so many cars coming flying down through there like they are on a racetrack, and there are kids that live there. I saw a kid next to me be out in the road and almost get hit,” she said. More firefighters and more people for the city’s stormwater department are also included. The city could also add two sanitation workers and another garbage truck as it continues to grow. “Now, we’re at a point in time where we just have to add more capacity within the system as new home developments come online,” Duncan said. A final reading of the budget is expected next month. If passed, it will take effect on July 1.
The city of Mauldin is proposing raising property taxes for the first time in more than a decade.
City Administrator Seth Duncan said the city is investing into public safety, transportation and its services. He said it is needed due to growth and inflation.
“Government’s not immune to inflation or increases across the board, and unfortunately, our growth rate, although significant, has not outpaced those other factors,” Duncan said.
Duncan said the average home in the city could see around $50 added to their yearly taxes. The proposed tax increase is the first in 15 years.
The budget passed first reading at the city council meeting on Monday.
It could pay for more public works employees, funding for Greenlink Route 601 and four more police officers to create a traffic unit.
“I think it would be a good thing as long as we’re going to get the extra cops and all the other stuff that they say we’re going to get,” Mauldin resident Kay Wilbanks said.
Wilbanks added the extra police officers are needed to cut down on speeding drivers in her area.
“There’s so many cars coming flying down through there like they are on a racetrack, and there are kids that live there. I saw a kid next to me be out in the road and almost get hit,” she said.
More firefighters and more people for the city’s stormwater department are also included. The city could also add two sanitation workers and another garbage truck as it continues to grow.
“Now, we’re at a point in time where we just have to add more capacity within the system as new home developments come online,” Duncan said.
A final reading of the budget is expected next month. If passed, it will take effect on July 1.
