Projects raising concerns

MOUNT PLEASANT — Recent increases in stormwater, utility franchise and recreation fees and a proposal for $1 hourly parking at the Memorial Waterfront Park has Town Councilman Joe Bustos calling for a fresh look at municipal finances.

"We should not continue to fund that which will increase fees on our residents. Perhaps a moratorium on new projects is in order until this is resolved," Bustos said in an e-mail Wednesday to council members.

"I think we just need to take a break from all this stuff," Bustos said in an interview. "We ought to just slow down a little bit. Let the dust settle a little bit. People are just strapped to the limit."

The $14 million park, scheduled to open in May, would have about 250 parking spaces that could be used by Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge walkers and runners. The town has proposed banning Patriots Point Boulevard roadside parking for bridge walkers and runners because it is dangerous, and instead directing runners and walkers to free parking near Patriots Point or to the pay lot at the new park.

The road shoulder is a popular option for walkers and runners because it is free and close to the bridge.

Councilman Nick Collins said he supports a 50-cent-per-hour parking fee for the new Waterfront Park. "You can count on the people using the bridge to use the facilities provided at the Waterfront Park," he said.

The side of the road that bridge walkers and runners use to park is an accident waiting to happen, he said. "We are lucky nothing has happened to date. It just takes one and we (thetown) will be at fault," he said.

Councilman Paul Gawrych was receptive to Bustos' idea of taking another look at town finances. "I under

stand where he's coming from. Let's do a gut check here," Gawrych said.

He said he was open to exploring Bustos' proposal to find a way a pay for Waterfront Park operations and maintenance other than charging an hourly parking fee. But he doesn't think the town should risk losing momentum on projects such as the Waterfront Park because they are an investment in the community.

"I think that sitting still will let so much dust accumulate on you that you can't get out from under it," he said.

The town is paying for its $14 million park construction through tax increment financing, a method that borrows funds for improvements expected to increase property values, thereby generating more taxes to pay back the debt. Bustos said some of those funds could be set aside for park maintenance. A $1 hourly parking fee is projected to raise $400,000 annually for park operations and maintenance.

Councilman Gary Santos said tax increment financing funds by law have to be used for park construction only.

Increased stormwater fees were needed to pay for an unfunded federal mandate for a stormwater management program, he said. The annual stormwater fee for homeowners was raised from $18 to $30.

Patriots Point boulevard roadside parking for bridge walkers is dangerous, he said, and cars have been burglarized.

Bustos said he had read the statute governing use of tax increment financing funds, and he didn't think use of the funds for park maintenance was prohibited.

Double-digit growth has slowed to a trickle, which has created a need for other revenue to keep the town from relying too heavily on its savings account to weather the next three years, after which officials expect the economy to rebound. The town has frozen 40 positions, including seven police officers and four firefighters.

Town Administrator Mac Burdette has said the utility franchise fee hike, which will increase the annual cost of electricity by an average of $48, was necessary to keep the town on sound financial footing. Otherwise, it could be forced to drain its $7 million savings account that serves as a financial safety net in the event of emergencies such as a hurricane, he said.

Reach Prentiss Findlay at 937-5711 or pfindlay@postandcourier.com.