Since May 2005 PRESORT STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID CHARLESTON, SC PERMIT NO. 137 POSTAL PATRON
Volume 20 • Issue 26
SI Council
SI PROPOSES BALANCED 2026 BUDGET AMID RISING COSTS
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May 30, 2025
Isle of Paws & IOP Playground Ribbon Cutting
BY JOSHUA UYS
t the May 20 Sullivan’s Island Town Council meeting, Comptroller Jason Blanton presented the draft general fund budget for fiscal year 2026, highlighting increased revenues, rising operational costs and major infrastructure investments. Blanton attributed a projected $410,000 revenue increase primarily to higher property tax collections and business license fees. These gains are being used to offset a statemandated 3.5% rise in employee pension and health benefit costs, which affect all town departments. With limited flexibility to raise other revenue streams, such as franchise fees, sales taxes, or grants, the town relied on these traditional sources to balance the budget. Despite rising costs, the town expects to end the year with a surplus of nearly $500,000 in the general fund, which will help finance capital projects. One of the largest expenditures is the replacement of the stormwater system, a project estimated at $15 million. “Luckily, over the past few years the town has received grants, and those grants are covering almost all of that $15 million, with the town covering somewhere around $4 million,” Blanton said. When combined with the capital improvement budget, the town maintains a balanced overall budget. The town has also established an internal fleet service fund to manage and maintain municipal vehicles. This in-house approach has reduced downtime for essential services like police and fire, while also yielding cost savings. The Water and Sewer Department is also facing cost pressures. While the sewer budget increased modestly by 1.47%—despite the 3.5% rise in staff benefit costs—the water budget is increasing by 11.6%. This sharp uptick is primarily due to a new 40-year agreement with Charleston Water System, which secures an additional 100,000 gallons of water capacity for the island. Additionally, new Environmental Protection Agency PFAS compliance regulations, aimed at lowering the permissible levels of “forever chemicals” in (continued on page 2) drinking water, have
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Children and their families attend the ribbon cutting ceremony of the new IOP playground and the Isle of Paws Music Fest on Thursday, May 15.
The Raber family from the IOP. PHOTOS BY TAMMY COX
A Taste of the Islands
THE ISLAND CLUB HOSTED ITS TASTE OF SULLIVAN’S ISLAND FUNDRAISER ON SATURDAY, MAY 17. PROCEEDS BENEFITED RENOVATIONS TO THE HISTORIC BUILDING WHICH HAS BEEN HOSTING EVENTS SINCE 1946. STAFF PHOTOS
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