CAYCE, S.C. — The Cayce City Council met on Wednesday to discuss the 2024-2025 budget and voted on a 25% utility increase for water and sewer.
Council members made the decision during a meeting to discuss how Cayce will fund the upcoming fiscal year's budget, which begins on July 1.
Mayor Elise Partin and Councilman Byron Thomas voted against the water rate increase.
Council members also discussed the city's overall spending plan and a millage increase to support the $19 million general fund budget. That discussion included residents' concerns about rate increases and fees related to sewer, water, and sanitation.
"So, I mean, I don't want to see taxes go up at all, but the cost of doing business has increased for everybody, and we've got to keep up. I'll be it with compassion, right?" resident Tracy Broom said. "We have to think about people on a fixed income, and I don't envy you having to balance the needs of folks who really are going to be impacted if taxes go up."
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"Cayce's median income, if ya'll don't know this, is $34,568," resident Tre Bray said. "This is significantly lower than what our average staff salaries are and less than a fifth of some of our highest salaries. This disconnect is concerning. We cannot keep raising taxes while our residents struggle. Remember, we serve them, not the other way around."
Councilman Hunter Sox proposed a tax increase of two mils, but it was amended to four and passed.
Mayor Partin was the only one who voted no, saying more money was needed.
According to the agenda packet, which included additional budget numbers, the original proposed increase of eight mils would have meant a $32 annual increase for residents of a $100,000 home.
"We have always committed to be a council that you can be proud of," Partin said. That means we have to make the tough decisions sometimes, to balance, not to just raise."