Myrtle Beach City Council gives final approval to next year's budget…

During Tuesday’s meeting, City Council approved the $202 million spending plan for Fiscal year 2019-20, which begins July 1.  The budget continues the emphasis on public safety which City Council began two years ago.  It includes a three mill property tax increase, primarily to pay for 10 new police officers.  For an owner-occupied home valued at $200,000, that’s an additional $24 per year.  A commercial property or second home valued at $200,000 will pay an extra $36 per year. 

The budget also includes rate increases for solid waste, water and sewer services.  Residential solid waste fees will climb by $4.75 per month.  Most of that is to provide for six new staff members and four new collection trucks to serve the tremendous residential growth in Myrtle Beach.   The monthly cost for solid waste services will rise from $26.05 to $30.80 for weekly garbage, recycling, bulky junk and yard waste collection.  

Water rates will increase seven percent, while sewer rates will increase five percent. Both of these increases are to keep up with the wholesale cost and provide ongoing system maintenance. For the average family that uses 7,500 gallons of water per month, the combined increase will mean an additional $2.90 per month.  The higher fees will appear beginning in the August utility bills.

Other highlights of the new budget include continuation of the police recruitment and retention plan, preliminary engineering for a future municipal complex, maintenance and renovation of recreation facilities and continued planning for downtown redevelopment.  For more information, see https://www.cityofmyrtlebeach.com/04.%202019-030%20Budget%20Ordinance%20FY%202019-2020%20(2nd).pdf