Darren "Troy" Mullinax Seeks Reelection to Town Council

Councilman Mullinax was first elected to Town Council in 2012 and was reelected in 2014.   He serves as Chairman of the Public Safety Committee and Council Liaison to the Neighborhood Council.   The Neighborhood Council is responsible for promoting crime watch and emergency preparedness, especially for hurricanes.   Troy has worked hard to recruit representatives of the neighborhoods in the Town and has had success, though some representatives participate more than others.   Troy and the Neighborhood Council play a key role in one of the Town's major annual events, "National Night Out."   It is always a great success.   If you haven't been, be sure to come.  The emphasis is on promoting neighborhood crime watch and building bridges between the Town's law enforcement and the community.

Troy and I do not always agree, but we both support one of the key goals of the Town--giving our former residents in the unincorporated area an opportunity to rejoin.   All members of Council have been aware of the Town's work to change annexation law in Columbia.   Troy has been supportive.  However, Town Council never voted on the matter until last spring.   Troy voted in favor of a resolution in support of the legislation needed to reunite the Town.   

Troy has also supported cooperation with James Island Public Service District to allow for a tax credit.  That is what allowed Town homeowners to have a more than 13% property tax cut in October.  He is committed to continued tax relief in coming years.

Troy supports the Town's low density development policy.   He supports the Island Sheriff's Patrol and supported working towards having a Deputy assigned to the Town full time.   He has supported the Town's efforts to build sidewalks and parks.   He understands the need to emphasize drainage.

Troy Mullinax is a sound choice for Town Council.   He has a record.  And when it is truly important, he has come through for our Town.

Alexandra Purro Seeks James Island Town Council Seat

Alexandra Purro is running for James Island Town Council.   She has worked with the Town of James Island for several years on the "Town Market."   She had organized a market as a private venture.  The Town Administrator, with my blessing,  approached Alexandra with a proposal to work together on a "Town Market."  Alexandra is not a Town employee.  She recruits and supervises the vendors at the market and collects their fees.

When I heard from the Town Clerk that Alexandra had expressed interest in running for Council, I was taken totally by surprise.   I had no idea she was interested in seeking elected office. Later, I learned that she had filed for office.  Next time I saw her, I wished her luck.

Soon, I heard concerns from members of Council that there could be a conflict of interest.  In my opinion, there is absolutely no conflict for her to run for Town Council.   However, if she wins, the Town Attorney would need to review our current arrangement. It seems obvious to me that if she was on Council she would have to recuse herself from voting on any Town expenditure that benefits the Town Market.  Currently, the market is held at Town Hall and the Town pays for a jump castle and movies are shown using equipment purchased by the Town.

Early in the campaign, my wife, James Island Public Service District Vice-Chair Kathy Woolsey, told me that she was going to support Alexandra for Council.   Her explanation was that we need more diversity on Town Council.   I told Kathy that was fine, but I was more concerned about Alexandra's positions on the major issues facing the Town.

I have met with Alexandra since.   She explained that she would like to run the James Island Market on a volunteer basis.  Apparently, she has not been taking home a big profit because her expenses are about equal to the fees she collects from the vendors.  I would be open to that approach, but it would be a major change and would require a vote by Council.  The Town would take a larger role in the market, with the vendor fees going to the Town and all expenditures run through the Town's budget.  However, these considerations are only relevant if she wins.

I also asked her about the major issues facing our Town.  I asked about our effort to reunite the Town.  She supports that.  I asked if she supported cooperating with the James Island Public Service District to allow a tax credit.  She said that she did.  She supported the Island Sheriff's Patrol and thought experimenting with having a Sheriff's Deputy assigned to the Town full time was a good idea.  She suggested that should be a first step and we should move towards more full-time and fewer part time deputies.  She supported the Town's low density development policy.   She supports sidewalks.  She understands the need to focus on drainage issues. 

My impression, however, is that her real passion is to spearhead events and festivals. The Town has always depended on members of Council pitching in and helping with citizen groups and organizing various activities and events.   So she would fit in well.

My view is the Alexandra Purro would be a sound choice for Town Council.   

Reelect Josh Stokes for James Island Town Council

Please vote to reelect Councilman Josh Stokes to James Island Town Council.   Councilman Stokes is young, smart, and committed to the Island and its people.   His legal background has been a great help to me and the rest of Council.  Josh developed the concept for the legislation that will allow us to reunite the Town.  The new bill based on modification of contiguity passed the South Carolina House unanimously last spring and goes before the South Carolina Senate in January. 

Josh supports the Town's low density development policy.  By allowing our former residents to annex to the Town, more of the Island will be protected from high density development.

Josh also chairs the Town's Drainage Committee.  This committee includes all of Town Council and ex-officio representatives from the City of Charleston, Charleston County, and our state representatives.   Josh is working to continue the Town's progress in improving drainage to help protect our residents from flooding.

As chair of the Children's Committee, he has put together several of the Town's annual events--most recently, the annual Lights Out Halloween Festival, but also the Easter Egg Roll and the Christmas Tree Lighting.  It is these types of events that build our Island community.

Josh is also a strong supporter of cooperation between the Town and the James Island Public Service District, which led to this year' tax credit plan resulting in a more than 13% property tax cut for Town homeowners.   He is committed to continued property tax relief.

Josh and I don't always agree, but we can usually find a way to work together for the good of the Town.   Please return Josh Stokes to Town Council so that we can continue to keep our taxes low while improving our quality of life.

Reelect Leonard Blank to James Island Town Council

Please reelect Leonard Blank to James Island Town Council.   Leonard's long experience with the Town always provides guidance to me, the staff, and the rest of Council.   He was Chairman of the Town's Planning Commission from 2002 to 2004 and then began serving on Town Council in 2006.   After serving with me on the Free James Island committee in 2011, he returned to Council in 2012.   He serves as Mayor Pro-tem and is Chair of the Town's Land Use Committee, serving as Council liaison to the Town's Planning Commission and Board of Zoning Appeals.

Leonard played a key role in developing the Town's low density approach to planning and zoning in 2002.  He understands what the Town can and cannot do under the laws of South Carolina.   He has always worked to protect the Island from over development.

Leonard and I don't always see eye-to-eye, but we both share a key Town goal to give our former residents in the unincorporated area the opportunity to rejoin the Town.   Today, approximately 1/4 of James Island is under Town jurisdiction and protected from over development.   Approximately 1/4 of James Island is unincorporated.  There is potential for major developments in "the County," but worse, developers continue to annex to the City of Charleston to allow for even denser development.   Councilman Leonard Blank understands that our best opportunity to protect James Island is to reunite the Town.

Leonard was also a strong supporter of cooperation between the Town and the James Island Public Service District that allowed for our new tax credit which reduced property tax for Town homeowners by more than 13% on our October bills.   He is committed to continued tax relief for residents of the Town.

Leonard understands the need to focus on drainage.  He has supported the Town's effort to restrict "fill and build."  Leonard has supported the Town's program to extend sidewalks.   He has supported Town Parks.

Please return Leonard Blank to Town Council so that we can continue to work together to keep our taxes low while improving the quality of life on James Island.

Camp and Folly Beautification Project

The Town is asking Charleston County Council to sell the old subway property at the corner of Camp and Folly to Corkey's for the appraised value of $500,000.   In exchange for our support, Corkey's has agreed to sell an easement on 30% of the property to the Town for $100,000. 

The net cost for Corkey's will be $400,000, so they are paying 80% of the appraised value and will be able to use 70% of the property.   In effect, the Town is paying 20% of the cost in exchange for permanent use of 30% of the property.

The County insisted on one buyer, so that is why Corkey's is paying the County for the property and then the Town is buying the easement from Corkey's.   The reason for the easement is that the property is too small to subdivide according to Town ordinances.  Everything the Town wants to do can be done with an easement.

Corkey's plan is to put a parking lot on the 70% of the property that they will retain.  They will pay to construct the parking lot.  The Town has insisted that their parking lot be "open" as a condition of our request to County Council.  That means there will be no signs stating that parking is for Corkey's customers only, others will be towed, etc. This is consistent with the Rethink Folly Road plan which encourages an open parking policy for all businesses along Folly Road. While it is likely that the parking will mostly be used by Corkey's customers during its business hours, in the evening and on Saturday afternoon and Sundays all spots will be available for the general public. 

The Town's plan for the 30% of the property we will obtain include a bus shelter, signage, a bike rack, a multi-use path, a bench, trees and other landscaping. The  purpose is to beautify this corner in the center of the commercial core of our Town.  The proposed bus shelter has been coordinated with CARTA and it will involve moving the current stop approximately 30 feet from its location in front of Pizza Hut.

We understand that a big developer is ready to outbid Corkey's and the Town.   I am skeptical that will work out.   I hope County Council agrees to the Town's proposal that Corkey's buy the property.  The partnership with the Town, including a Town financial contribution, is important for this sale.   If County Council does not accept this proposal, then County staff will recommend that they sell the property using a sealed bid. My greatest fear is that the property will remain vacant with a derelict building while some speculator waits for top dollar. 

If County Council accepts our proposal, the Town will be purchasing our 30% share of the parcel using some of our hospitality tax money.  That money cannot be used for most general government purposes. We cannot use those monies for drainage maintenance or law enforcement in our neighborhoods.  The Town can use these funds for Rethink Folly Road improvements because Folly Road is used by tourists--to access Folly Beach.

Unfortunately, there has been much misinformation spread about this proposal. The Town has not described this small spot of green on Folly Road as a park. The Town is not going to spend $100,000 per year, this is a one time expense.  The Town is not going to pay to construct a parking lot for Corkey's.  The Town is not paying Corkey's to use their new parking lot after hours.  The Town is not asking CARTA to remove the bus stop near Bi-Lo at Riverpoint Road.   

What the Town is doing is working to remove an abandoned building from the center of the Town and we believe that when our residents drive by they will instead see a small spot of green that will make all of us proud.

Rezoning on Dills Bluff?

At the July meeting of the James Island Public Service District Commission, Chairman Alan Laughlin proposed moving the JIPSD headquarters from its current location on Signal Point Road to Dills Bluff Road.  That would include both their administrative and industrial activities such as parking, cleaning, and maintenance of the District's fleet of garbage and sewer trucks.  The Chairman gave a long presentation regarding a 2014 plan that had been rejected by the Commissioners after an outcry by residents of Whitehouse Plantation, the neighborhood adjacent to the District's property behind the Camp Road Shopping Center. 

Most Commissioner's spoke against the proposal, reminding the Chair of the public outcry the last time the District proposed parking garbage trucks next to a residential neighborhood. Vice Chair Kathy Woolsey said that the first step would be for the Chairman go to the Town and ask to rezone the property to industrial.  The Chair's proposal never came to a vote.  The Chairman asked the Commissioners to give him an opportunity to share his proposal to the community.  The proposal to move from Signal Point Road to Dills Bluff as well as ordinances that would instead begin the process of selling the property were postponed until the August meeting on a 5 to 2 vote.   Vice Chair Woolsey and Commissioner Brown Crouch voted against the motion to postpone because they were ready to vote against the Chair's proposal and to move forward with selling the property. 

The Chairman said he was completely against selling the property.  Commissioners Engelman and Platt also spoke against selling the property, with Commissioner Platt proposing that the District move the administrative offices to Dills Bluff.  Those Commissioners in favor of selling the property argued that the District cannot afford to move its Administrative Offices and needs the funds from the sale of the property for other more important capital expenses such as renovation of the fire station on Harbor View Road.   Nearly all of the property is zoned single family residential.  If it is sold, then no more than 15 single family homes could be put in the area. 

The Town and District have begun monthly meetings between the Mayor and Chair.  At our meeting in August, I explained to the Chairman that his proposal to move their garbage and sewer operations to Dills Bluff would require that their property be rezoned to industrial.  I explained that I don't believe that there are any members of Town Council willing to vote for such a drastic rezoning.  I said that I would support rezoning at least some of the property to office residential to allow the District to move its administrative offices to Dills Bluff Road. 

The Chairman then discussed the matter with the Town's Planning Director.   She explained that moving the garbage truck operations would require a rezoning to industrial.   The Chairman said that she was wrong and that he would challenge her ruling.   Any such challenge would go to the Town's Board of Zoning Appeals.   The BZA ruling could then be appealed to circuit court.   While the District has every right to file an appeal of the Planning Director's opinion, I would think that it would only go forward with a favorable vote by the Commissioners.   I think that there is only one Commissioner, the Chair Alan Laughlin, that would support seeking a rezoning from the Town.

Stop Development on James Island? How?

The Town of James Island is almost entirely zoned single family residential with a density of three units per acre.   There is no vacant land in the Town zoned for apartments.   The only areas zoned multifamily have had apartment complexes on them before the Town was formed the first time--in 1992. 

The commercially-zoned properties in the Town do allow for apartments, but only four units per acre.  There are very few vacant commercial lots in the Town.  Nearly all of the commercial lots in the Town are along Folly Road and have businesses on them.

In fact, there isn't very much vacant land in the Town at all.   The Town is almost entirely "built out" made up of single family residential neighborhoods.

In last the ten years, there have been three small subdivisions built in the Town with 44 new homes.  Since the Town is made up of slightly more than 4000 households, that is an increase of about 1%.

When I see candidates for Town Council centering their campaigns on stopping excessive development on James Island, I am puzzled.  What developments in the Town of James Island are they complaining about?   Town Council can prevent rezoning of single family areas to commercial or multi-family.   But no one on Town Council has supported that.  And it hasn't happened. 

Of course, we see new apartment complexes and residential neighborhoods being constructed on James Island nearly every day.  It occurs on the approximately 50% of James Island that has been annexed by the City of Charleston.

James Island Town Council has no authority over development in the City of Charleston.  The City does not ask the permission of the Town's Mayor or Council before they allow developers to build.   The laws of the South Carolina do not require them to ask our permission.  County Council has no authority over the City of Charleston either.  County Council only governs development in the unincorporated area.

Former Mayor Riley supported dense infill development on James Island. Since he has left, City policy has improved, but there is a legacy of City zoning that allows for dense development.  Nothing requires a municipality to zone for dense development, but once you have zoned a property multi-family or commercial, reversing course is difficult. You can expect a legal challenge from the owners and they have a very good chance of winning in South Carolina.   Still, most City areas are zoned for their least dense single family residential--five units per acre.  Unfortunately, that is substantially more dense than in the Town.

In my view, what the Town needs to do is continue to work to change annexation laws in Columbia so that the voters in the 25% of James Island that is unincorporated and was in the Town in 2011 can rejoin.   The Town's density requirements will then apply on approximately 50% of James Island, rather than the County's slightly higher density or the City's substantially higher density.  The way to stop the City from annexing even more of James Island is to reunite the Town.

So, when a candidate for James Island Town Council tells you they will stop excessive development on James Island, ask them, how?   Do they think this excessive development is in the Town?   Do they support reuniting the Town and stopping the continued expansion of the City of Charleston on James Island?   Do they think they will make the City of Charleston change its development policies?  How?  Beg and Plead?  Cry?  Speak firmly?  Throw tantrums?   

The one member of Charleston City Council who lives on James Island fully understands the need to stop excessive development.   I have always been willing to work with her.   But she is just one member of City Council.   How can Town officials be most effective?    My observation over the years is that having Town officials insult City officials has been counter-productive.   The City of Charleston did modify their zoning on James Island so that commercial properties no longer automatically allow for large apartment complexes. 

I certainly hope that no candidate for James Island Town Council is so cynical that they hope that voters will be confused and think that these developments are occurring in the Town of James Island and that all that must be done is to elect new members of Council.    To me, that seems like exploiting voter ignorance. 

I certainly am open to new ideas.   Exactly how can a member of Town Council stop excessive development in the City of Charleston or the unincorporated area?   How can property owners in the unincorporated area be stopped from annexing to the City of Charleston to allow even more density than in unincorporated Charleston County?   Shouldn't candidates let the voters in on their plan?

Solid Waste Proposal--Cooperation

The James Island Public Service District Commission and the City of Charleston have been working on a plan to provide more efficient solid waste collection in our community. The effort is being spearheaded by Commissioner Meredith Poston, chair of the Commission's Solid Waste Committee, and Charleston City Councilwoman Carol Jackson.

Everyone on James Island has observed that in many neighborhoods, two sets of garbage trucks go down the street each week. One truck picks up at homes with the brown roller bins, and then another truck comes on another day and picks up at homes with the green roller bins.

In my opinion, this is the most blatant example of waste and duplication of public services on our Island.

The proposed solution is simple. The JIPSD will pick up garbage and yard debris for homes in both the Town and in the City in one area. In exchange, the City will pick up the garbage and yard debris for homes in both the Town and the City in another area. The total number of homes served by the JIPSD and the City will remain the same, but by coordinating their efforts, both will save on fuel and time. Instead of the JIPSD trucks going down a street and picking up garbage and yard debris for those in the Town and passing by the City homes and then the City trucks going by and picking up just the City and passing by Town homes another day, only one set of trucks will go down each street.

It is just commons sense. I support this proposal 100%.

The Solid Waste Committee of the JIPSD Commission will consider a limited pilot program to test the proposal on Monday night, August 26 at 6:30 PM. The Committee recommendation is scheduled to come before the full Commission at 7:00 PM that same night.

The test area will be for a neighborhood that is mostly annexed to the City with only a few homes in the Town that will be covered by the City and a nearby neighborhood mostly in the Town with only a few homes annexed to the City that will be covered by the JIPSD. Both neighborhoods are near Harbor View Road. The target date for the test is October.

Can we please try some cooperation between the City of Charleston and the James Island Public Service District?

Call 911 to Report Sewer Spills

On August 14, there was a major sewer spill next to Harbor View Road.  There was a break in a pressurized sewer line belonging to the Charleston Water System.  Raw sewage entered a tributary of James Island Creek between the Ellis Creek Fish Camp and the Harbor Creek Condominiums. 

We need citizen help.  Please promptly report sewer spills.   If you observe a spill call 911.  Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch will contact the proper wastewater utility to provide emergency repairs.   Charleston Water System and the James Island Public Service District both provide sewer service on James Island.  All the sewage is treated by Charleston Water System at Plum Island.

Getting emergency repairs started as soon as possible should be our priority.  However, DHEC (South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control) also encourages citizens to report sewer spills to them.  The technical term is Sanitary Sewer Overflows (SSO.)  For James Island you would call North Charleston DHEC Office at 843-953-0150.    SSO reports are not unusual in Charleston County and are often associated with heavy rains or major storms. 

Call 911 first and then call DHEC at (843) 953-0150.

Please help your local government protect our waterways.

Map of Sewer Spill

View of Repair Site on Harbor View Road

View of Repair Site from Harbor Creek Condominiums

James Islanders--Please Let Me Serve Another Term

Dear James Islanders,

I am seeking reelection as your Mayor.

There are some important tasks that I believe I should complete.

All are important for the well-being of our Island.

• Reunite the Town
• Tax Relief
• Drainage Improvements
• Law Enforcement
• Address Pollution of James Island Creek
• Sidewalks and Bike Paths
• Park Improvements

Progress has been made in all of these areas, but many Town initiatives are incomplete.

Please give me the opportunity to serve you.

Thank you.

Mayor Bill Woolsey

JIPSD Property Taxes and TOJI Planning and Zoning

The Post and Courier weighed in on conflict amoung the James Island Public Service District Commissioners about their budget and property tax millage.  The Commission Chair replied.  Little light was shed by either.

A majority of Commissioners believed that the 13% property tax increase adopted in 2018 was more than necessary for the two stated purposes--increased pay for firefighter recruits and replacement of the current fire station on Camp Road. There was also concern that the cost of the new fire station on Folly Road was excessive--more than $8 million. They sought to reduce property tax by 2 mils to what they believed was necessary at this time--which would have left approximately 75% of last year's increase intact.

No Commissioner took the position that the District could operate forever with no millage increase.   Their view was that property taxes should be levied as necessary to fund expenditures approved by the Commission--not based upon possible future expenditures requested by the District staff.

The Post and Courier's take was that it is all the Town of James Island's fault--for existing. If the people of James Island had not decided to "go it alone" and were part of the the City of Charleston, there would be no need to raise JIPSD property taxes.  I suppose they believe that the cost of public services on James Island would be paid by those in the rest of the City.

It is true that if everyone on James Island annexed to the City, no one would pay JIPSD property tax--we would all pay City property tax. However, JIPSD property tax for homeowners only surpassed that in the City for the first time last year.  The reason City homeowners paid less despite a higher millage is they benefit from a local option sales tax credit.   Because of the way that credit is distributed, those of us in the JIPSD continued to pay less than those in the City on our cars and boats as did owners of business and rental property.

More importantly, the increase in the City's millage last year pushed the property tax burden on City homeowners back above that in the JIPSD.  Annexing to the City is no way to save on property tax. Sure, more James Island costs could be pushed onto taxpayers in the rest of the City, but James Islanders who annex to the City must pay a share of the very heavy cost of providing services elsewhere.

The Post and Courier recommended that the Commissioners ask the Town to change our planning and zoning to allow more commercial and multi-family development.  Its theory appears to be that intense development of our Island would increase property values and tax revenue for the JIPSD.

The Town already encourages businesses to open and supports redevelopment in what we call our "Commercial Core" centered at the Camp and Folly intersection.  The Town has worked with the City of Charleston and Charleston County to adopt the Folly Road Overlay and continues to work with other jurisdictions to implement the Rethink Folly Road Plan.  Those efforts aim to improve the Town's commercial district which would tend to generate more revenue for the JIPSD and the Town from a variety of sources.

Most of the Town is zoned single family residential and our density is three units per acre. We have only a few multi-family complexes that already existed when the Town was formed.  However, the Town is mostly built out and our zoning simply reflects the residential patterns and densities that currently exist.  I doubt whether rezoning the few vacant lots in the Town to multifamily would significantly increase property tax revenue.

What this is really about is the Post and Courier's commitment to so-called "smart growth" with James Island being slated for dense urbanization so that outlying areas such as Wadmalaw and Edisto Islands can remain rural.  James Islanders are fine with keeping those areas rural, but few, if any, favor a complete change in the character of our Island.   I certainly don't.

If we compare the cost of providing new infrastructure and services in outlying rural areas to the cost of providing it on a hypothetical hyper-dense James Island, the second might well be cheaper.  But the JIPSD is not going to pay for any services off of James Island and it would have to bear the cost of the added infrastructure necessary if we were to allow developers to raze our existing neighborhoods and replace them with giant gathering places similar to what the City encouraged in what it annexed on Maybank near Folly.

There are three reason why the JIPSD  must raise its millage from time to time.  First, unlike municipalities and counties, its enabling act provides very limited sources of revenue.  Fire protection and solid waste collection are solely funded by property tax.  Second, the State of South Carolina requires a millage rollback with every five-year reassessment of property values.  Third, the Federal Reserve targets a 2% inflation rate.

Inflation raises the dollar value of property and so a given millage should raise more revenue each year. However, SC law requires that the property values be reassessed every five years.  With 2% inflation, that means that amount collected would stay the same for five years and the suddenly jump a bit more than 10%.  But SC law also requires a millage rollback, which means each local government is left with an unchanged revenue after each reassessment.  Unfortunately, inflation is causing that constant dollar amount of revenue to lose 2% of its purchasing power each year.

To keep up with inflation, the JIPSD must periodically raise its millage.  All local governments have this problem, but it hits the JIPSD especially hard because it depends so much on property tax. Inflation raises costs for the Town too, but as prices rise, so does the total dollar value of sales and so the amount the Town collects in business licenses, franchise fees, and sales tax.  There is no sudden jump every five years nor is there a mandated roll back of rates.   

That is why Town is working with the Commissioners to provide a credit against the JIPSD property tax. The Town's other sources of revenue can be used to help pay for the fire protection and solid waste collection services the JIPSD provides our residents rather than depending solely on their property taxes. If the Commissioners approve the Cost Sharing Agreement with the Town in August, the property taxes homeowners in the Town pay the JIPSD will be approximately 30% lower than in the City of Charleston.  And all without completely changing the character of James Island.

Public Hearing on Tax Credit Plan

The Town will hold a public hearing on the proposed Cost Sharing Agreement with the James Island Public Service District at our regular meeting on Thursday, August 15 at 7:00 at the James Island Town Hall. 

Town Council approved an ordinance and a draft agreement at our July meeting.  I have scheduled second and final reading for our August meeting.   If Council approves the agreement and the JIPSD Commission does as well, then we should see an approximate 15% saving on the property tax bills that will be sent to Town homeowners in October.

The Cost Sharing Agreement creates a process by which the Town will pay the JIPSD each month for part of the cost of providing solid waste collection and fire protection within the jurisdiction of the Town in exchange for the District allowing the Town to provide a tax credit on the JIPSD line on the property tax bills sent by the County Auditor in Town's tax district. The agreement distributes the credits to Town property taxpayers in proportion to their appraised taxable property values, following the procedure of the Local Option Sales Tax credits. The total amount the Town pays the JIPSD for services each year will be equal to the total amount of the credits on all the property tax bills in the Town.   As a result, property taxpayers in the Town will pay less to the JIPSD, but the money paid by the Town to the JIPSD will result in it getting the same amount of revenue, allowing it to cover the cost of providing services to Town residents.

The Town will also  pay the District a 1% administrative fee each year and deposit $10,000 with the District to cover any credits charged to the District's tax fund balance at the County Treasurer's office. This would happen if the proper credit is left off of some property taxpayer's bill and the County Treasurer debited the District's tax revenue account rather than bill the Town.

The budget approved by Town Council in May allocated $1 million for payments for JIPSD services this year. The Cost Sharing Agreement will result in payments by the Town to the District of $83,334 each month. The 1% administrative fee will be $10,000. The total of the tax credits on all the property tax bills in the Town will be $1 million. 

For a Town of James Island homeowner, the result will be a 30% reduction in the property tax paid to the JIPSD.  For an average James Island home (appraised at $250,000,) that will be a $200 saving. Since JIPSD property tax is slightly less than half of the total property tax for a homeowner, the percent reduction overall will be approximately 15%. Property taxes for homeowners in the Town will also be approximately 15% less than for those in the City of Charleston. 

There will also be property tax savings for cars and boats as well as businesses and rental properties.   Because of the higher assessment ratios for those properties and other state credits provided to homeowners, the percent savings will be lower.

While the direct financial benefit to the JIPSD is the $10,000 administrative fee, it will also reap an additional financial benefit because the Town will pay part of the cost of services on behalf of our residents even when some of  Town taxpayers fail to pay.   Since the collection rate in the Town is approximately 95%, the District will collect approximately $50,000 per year more as long as the program continues. 

The Commissioners approved a Memorandum of Understanding that approved the tax credit plan in concept last spring and agreed to joint representation of the Town and the District by the Pope Flynn Law Group. The District's outside Auditor is working with our joint attorney from Pope Flynn to add a provision to review a sample of tax bills each year to make sure that the credits are properly applied. The County Auditor and County Treasurer have approved the tax credit plan, but both the Town and the Commission need to pass the needed ordinance on first reading before the end of August.  The deadline for the October tax bills is coming up fast. 

 The Town has already passed first reading and will be ready for second reading on August 15.  The JIPSD Commission meeting is Monday, August 26. 

I remain optimistic that we will see significant tax relief for Town homeowners on the October property tax bills.

Car Break-Ins

James Island is suffering from another of our periodic episodes of car break-ins.   The criminals go down the street looking for unlocked cars.   If the car is locked, they move on.  If it is unlocked, they rummage through the car looking fore something valuable.   We get reports of stolen handguns, laptops, and smart phones. 

The problem started several months ago, and I told Sargent Shawn James, coordinator of the Island Sheriff's Patrol, that catching these criminals is our top priority.  The Island Sheriff's Patrol are Sheriff's Deputies that the Town pays for extra law enforcement in our area. Sheriff Cannon has also directed more of his resources at this problem.  And the City of Charleston Police Department is also working closely with our Deputies to catch the criminals.

In the past, a criminal is caught and jailed.   The problem goes away for a time.   And then some new criminal starts, or else sadly, a criminal gets out of jail and goes back to stealing.  Sometime the criminals are from James Island, other times they are travelling here from somewhere else in the Lowcountry every night.

One of our Island Sheriff Patrol Officers caught three criminals breaking into a car a few weeks ago.   They were juveniles and they were released to their parents, though they will be brought before a judge and subject to punishment.   Usually, that process takes a long time and I have no report on the disposition of the case. Thankfully, the break-ins slowed down.

It is my understanding, that the problem was not solely the three who were caught.   There is a much larger group involved.   And the Island Sheriff's Patrol and City Police have not stopped looking for more criminals.   At the July Town Council meeting, Detectives from both the Sheriff's Department and the Charleston Police Department reported that they were working together to solve this problem. 

During the last week, the break-ins are back at the higher rate of a few weeks ago.  Sadly, the lull was only temporary.

On Tuesday, August 6, it is time again for National Night Out.   There will be a gathering at James Island Town Hall.   The purpose of the event is to bring the community and law enforcement together.   There will be police and fire equipment to see, hot dogs, snowcones, and a jump castle. 

But on a more serious note, representatives of the James Island Neighborhood Council will be on hand to sign people up for neighborhood watch.   Please come and sign up to become involved in your neighborhood--especially crime watch.

If you hear noises, your dogs start barking, look out the window.   If you see something suspicious late at night--call 911.  It is very likely that we have law enforcement on James Island just waiting for a call so they can find these criminals.

If you check out your car and someone has gone through your glove box, be sure to call it in.  Call 843-743-7200.  It is helpful to know where the criminals have been active.   

And most importantly, lock all of your cars every night.  These criminals don't seem to be breaking into houses yet (or much,) but lock your doors too--every night.   While they are passing buy locked cars, don't leave valuables in the car, especially where they can be seen.   While they mostly pass locked cars by, they might not if they see some valuable loot.

If we work together, with our local law enforcement, we can catch these criminals.

Street Sign Repair

Do the street signs in your neighborhood need to be replaced, repaired or cleaned?   The Town of James Island began installing and maintaining street signs in its area of jurisdiction on July 1 of this year.   Town Public Works staff has inventoried all of the street signs in the Town and will begin a systematic program of repair and replacement. 

We also depend on our Town residents to report problems with street signs.   You can fill out a work order online:

www.jamesislandsc.us/work-order-request

Or call Town Hall at (843)795-4141 to report a problem.

In the past, street sign maintenance had been one of the James Island Public Service District's responsibilities funded by their property tax. With the  large increase in the JIPSD property tax last year, the Town offered to take over this responsibility both to take a small burden off of District taxpayers and to allow expanded funding to catch up on some deferred maintenance.   It turns out that Charleston County Public Works has been replacing and repairing street signs in the unincorporated area of the District all along.   The majority of Commissioners voted to cease using District taxpayer funds to provide this service.   James Island Town Council voted unanimously to provide this service in the area of the Town at our June meeting.

James Island Public Service District Passes 2019-20 Budget

The James Island Public Service District passed its 2019-20 budget last night on a 5-2 vote.    Commissioner Platt and  Commissioner Kathy Woolsey voted  against.  This was after shortly after the Commissioners defeated the budget 4 to 3, with Commissioners Brown-Crouch and Poston joining Woolsey and Platt to vote against the budget. Repeating the events of last week, when the budget was defeated on first reading, after the defeat on second reading, the motion to adjourn failed with only Commissioners Platt and Brown-Crouch voting in favor.   Then there was a vote to reconsider.   I believe that a vote to reconsider must be made by someone who had voted against the budget, but it was made by Commissioner Clifford who had voted in favor.   The vote to reconsider passed.  I believe only Commissioner Platt opposed.   And then the budget passed.

Earlier, Commissioner Kathy Woolsey proposed a number of amendments   First she tried to limit the increase in sewer rates going into effect in October.   She proposed limiting the increase in the base rate to 27 cents rather than 53 cents per month.  That failed.  Then she tried to roll back last year's 13% property tax increase by 1.2 mils (about 1.5%.)   Each amendment failed.    The only change in the budget that the Commissioners made was to reduce spending on street signs by $5000, leaving that task to the City, County, and Town..

Many of the Commissioners were unhappy with the process.  Commissioner Clifford said "We won't be fooled again."  Commissioner Poston echoed her words.    Most Commissioners believe that the District's staff refused to work with the majority of Commissioners to reduce the budget and at least partially roll back last year's tax increase.

The Chairman, Alan Laughlin, has taken responsibility for keeping the 2018 property tax increase intact, working with the District's staff to keep the majority of Commissioners from reducing property tax.   He has explained that the Commissioners must listen to their staff. 

JIPSD Budget Hearing on June 24 at 6:30

The James Island Public Service District placed an ad in the Post and Courier this morning providing official notice of a public hearing to be held on  Monday, June 24 at 6:30 PM at 1739 Signal Point Road.     The regular meeting of the Commission is at 7:00 PM. 

The Chairman has agreed to call a special meeting of the Commission on Monday, June 17th.  (Likely at 7:00 PM.)   The purpose of the meeting is for a third attempt to pass the budget on first reading.    If that is successful, then second and final reading can be complete at the Commission's regular meeting on June 24th, after the public hearing.   If all goes well, the JIPSD will complete its budget before the beginning of the new fiscal year.

It is difficult to connect the ad to the draft budget distributed to the Commission.   The ad states that the Commission is increasing its government operations expenditure by 10% (fire protection and solid waste)  and its proprietary fund expenditure by an eye-popping 25% (wastewater.)   The total millage of 64.4 is to remain the same.  The budget also includes a modest increase in sewer rates, not included in the ad.

The draft budget appears to show a more modest increase in government operations of 3.8% and wastewater of 4.6%.    Hopefully, the Commissioners can get clarification on the percent increases included in the ad.

On the second day of the Commission's regular meeting in May (Tuesday, May 21,) the Commission passed a motion asking the staff to come back with a budget with a 2 mil property tax decrease.  The Commission then  rejected the budget on first reading by 5 to 1.   At the special meeting on June 3rd, the District Administrator proposed the same budget and in the meeting said he will not propose any cuts in taxes or spending.   The Commission then voted down the same budget they had rejected nearly two weeks earlier on a 6 to 1 vote.

Apparently, the Commission is on its own and will have to come up with amendments to cut spending and taxes or else just adopt what was presented to them by the District Administrator.

JIPSD Commissioners Defeat Budget Second Time 6 to 1

The James Island Public Service District Commission was called to a special meeting by its Chair, Alan Laughlin, on Monday, June 3rd.  He called for the meeting last Thursday, May 30th.  The sole item on the agenda was first reading of the budget.

At their regular meeting on May 20th, the Commissioners had voted down first reading of the budget 5-1.   Chair Laughlin was the sole vote in favor.   Sandy Engelman had left the meeting by that point.  The Commissions had unanimously approved a motion by Vice Chair Kathy Woolsey to return the budget to staff to cut property tax by 2 mils.   (About 3%.).

After the call for the special meeting, several Commissioners asked that the Chairman provide them a copy of the new budget.   He responded that with all they had asked the staff to do, the best he could do is provide the budget at 6:30 PM the night of the meeting.   Many Commissioners noted that this was unacceptable. 

When the Commissioners began arriving at 6:30 PM Monday night, they received the exact same budget that they had rejected two weeks before.   I am sure that many Commissioners wondered why they had come early to review a budget that was unchanged and ready on Thursday when the special meeting was called. 

When the meeting began at 7 PM, the Chair said that he asked the staff to prepare a budget that kept taxes the same.   No property tax increase, but no reduction of last year's 13% tax hike.   The District Administrator then explained that they reviewed the request by the Commissioners to reduce property tax but that it would only be possible if services were reduced or else the unencumbered funds balance were reduced.  (Some of JIPSD's savings were used.)  The new CFO then reviewed a set of letter from the District's bond attorney, financial adviser, and auditor that were interpreted to state that no property tax decrease was possible.

Most Commissioners where not impressed.   The Commissioners voted the budget down 6 to 1, with the Chair, Alan Laughlin voting to retain last year's 13% tax increase.

Vice Chair Kathy Woolsey made a motion to postpone first reading of the budget to June 17, but the Chair ruled her out of order stating that this was not on the agenda and that he was going to adjourn the meeting.   Commissioner Platt seconded the motion to adjournment.   The motion to adjourn passed.   After the meeting was over, Chair Laughlin said that now the Commissioners have made it impossible to pass the budget before the next fiscal year. 

In reality, the actual deadline for second reading and the public hearing is Sunday, June 30th, and the deadline for first reading is Sunday, June 23.   The advertisement for a public hearing on June 30th, is Saturday, June 15th. 

The second reading was scheduled for the Commissioners regular meeting on Monday, June 24th, and a first reading could be scheduled for Monday, June 17th.   Holding the "official" public reading on June 24th requires that the ad appear on Sunday, June 9th.   Apparently, the District Administrator has decided that the first reading is necessary before the ad in the paper.  While some government entities have first reading before the ad, others, like the Town of James Island, do not.

JIPSD Commissioners Defeat Budget on First Reading

A handful of District residents were on hand for the public hearing on the JIPSD Budget Monday night.  Most asked the Commissioners to reverse last year's tax increase.

The Commissioners were concerned about the proposed increase in sewer fees.  There is currently a $83,000 deficit on sewer operations.   The Vice Chair of the Commission, Kathy Woolsey, argued for a more modest increase in rates than the staff proposal.  She said they should close the deficit, but not raise rates so much that they started to run a substantial profit on sewer operations.   The District's new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), along with the district's auditor, said that they had to increase the rates as proposed because bond investors required a surplus in order to build up a reserve.  (The material distributed showed no need to increase the reserve this year and also showed that the proposed rate increases over the next five years would generate a much larger increase in reserve than the minimum required.)  The CFO also said that the Commission must approve the increase tonight because it was tied to the rest of the budget. 

The Commission voted to approve the rate increase as proposed by staff, but they sent it to the wastewater committee to review it and see if a smaller increase would be sufficient. Since the increase doesn't go into effect until October, they felt they had time for a second look.   The Vice Chair said that she thought they she deal with the matter tonight, but as Chair of the Wastewater Committee, she would schedule a meeting soon.

The Vice-Chair had distributed to the Commissioners, the staff, and the public, ten different amendments to cut spending and roll back taxes. When the budget came up, she made a motion  to amend the budget.  Before she could actually propose anything, the Chairman, Alan Laughlin interrupted and asked her to withdrawal all of her proposed amendments.  The Chairman said he was going to send the budget back to the Ways and Means Committee.  He didn't think amendments to the budget should be considered at the regular meeting. The vice-Chair pointed out that he did not have the authority to do that.   The Commission's Parliamentary Attorney said that she didn't remember if he had that authority, but that the Chair, like any Commissioner, could move that the budget be returned to Committee.  He made that motion, it was seconded, and it passed. 

Soon after, staff insisted that the Commission must approve first reading of the budget because of the need to advertise the public hearing.  The ad must include some figures from the budget. So the Chair moved to bring the budget back up and that passed.  The Vice-Chair again moved to amend the budget.  The Chair threatened to adjourn the meeting if she continued.  Commissioner Platt moved to adjourn and the Chair seconded.    The motion to adjourn the meeting failed. 

Vice-Chair Woolsey then moved to amend the budget to reduce the debt service millage from 9.3 to 7.3 mils. The proposed amendment matched that reduced revenue by cutting "future capital leases" to zero and also the surplus increasing the balance in the debt service fund to zero.   The District's new Chief Financial Officer  said that the amendments cut taxes without cutting spending and violated the requirement of a balanced budget.   The vice-Chair said that that was not correct and asked the CFO to look at the sheet she had provided. He refused and said he knew the numbers. The Commission approved the amendment 4 to 3.

Commissioner Engleman said she was going home if they didn't go into executive session right away. The Commission then voted to go into executive session to get legal advice.   The Commission's labor attorney stayed and everyone else had to go outside and wait--for a long time.  Commissioner Engelman left the executive session and went home.  After a while, the executive session ended and everyone returned.   The Commission then voted to recess the meeting (it was about 10:30) until the next day at 7 PM.

When the meeting resumed on Tuesday, the staff had brought the District's bond attorney to advise against the amendment because of bond investors.  Chairman Alan Laughlin then proposed to reverse the amendment passed at the last meeting. 

The bond attorney said that the District really cannot zero out the balance in the debt service fund.   The Vice-Chair pointed out that the amendment did not zero out the balance in the bond service fund.  She read the amendment which zeroed out the surplus, which would mean that the balance in the bond service fund would stay the same rather than increase.  The bond attorney looked at the CFO and then said that he had misunderstood the amendment. 

The CFO said he didn't know where the Vice Chair got her numbers.   She responded that she had gotten them from him.   (They came from the draft budget.)   She asked if he had provided wrong numbers.   He responded that he was offended that she suggested that he provided wrong numbers.

The Vice-Chair said that she understood that the usual practice by local government was to first borrow money and then have the County Auditor place the millage on the tax bill needed to pay it back with interest.   The bond attorney said that was true.   Commissioner Woolsey pointed out that the District doesn't doit that way and has been collecting money from the taxpayers before they even knew how much the new fire station would cost, much less the debt service on the money they would borrow.   The bond attorney looked stunned and said that he guessed that it can be done that way. 

Vice Chair Woolsey then pointed out that the staff had been there last year when over 75 people crowded the hearing to protest the tax hike.   They were well aware that every Commissioner up for election who voted for the tax hike was turned out of office by the voters.   The newly elected Commissioners were all very critical of the tax hike.   Even so, the staff prepared a budget that left the tax hike unchanged.  She said if the Commission voted to reverse the amendment, she would make a motion to return the budget to staff with instructions to cut taxes by 2 mils.  Commissioner Platt said he would second that motion.

The Commission voted 5 to 2 to repeal the budget amendment that had passed the previous night.   Vice Chair Woolsey and Commissioner Brown Crouch voted against repeal. 

Commissioner Woolsey then moved to return the budget to staff with the instruction to reduce the property tax by 2 mils. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Platt.   It passed unanimously.

The first reading of the budget was defeated 5 to 1.  Chairman Laughlin was the sole vote in favor.  Commissioner Engleman had left the meeting early.

Public Hearing on 2020 JIPSD Budget on Monday, May 20 at 6:30

The James Island Public Service District is holding a public hearing on its 2020 Budget on Monday, May 20 at 6:30 PM in the Conference Room at 1639 Signal Point Road.

Here is a link to the draft budget.

The good news is that the budget proposed to the Commission by District Administrator Robert Wise includes no property tax increase.   However, it leaves unchanged the 13% property tax increase from last year.   I strongly believe that the Commissioners can and should reverse at least some of that increase.

The budget projects future property tax increases over the next 5 years.   The operating millage is projected to increase by 4.5 mils and the debt millage by 3.8 mils for a total of 8.3 mils.   The total millage this year is 64.4, so that is an increase to 72.7 mills which is a nearly 13% increase.

Also before the Commission is a hike in sewer fees.   The proposed increase next year is only fifty cents per month.   It is applied to the base rate and the new CFO said that it was a 5% increase.   I think it would be helpful to know the percent increase from the average sewer bill.   My bills run about $40 and so 50 cents is a little more than a 1% increase.   However, the proposal includes additional increases over the next five years, adding up to more than $5.   For me, anyway, that would be a 12% increase over 5 years.

Only the initial increase in sewer rates is before the Commission this year and any further increases will only go into effect if the Commission approves them at future meetings.   Similarly, the projected property tax increases will not go into effect unless they are actually approved by the Commission with each future budget.

In my opinion, last year's  13% property tax increase was excessive and so the Commission should reduce property taxes this year.   The former CFO told me that when she calculated the needed increase in the property tax and reported it to the District Administrator, he ordered her to add 2 extra mils to what was needed.  She has now been replaced by her former assistant. 

The Commission and the public were told that the 2 mil increase in the operating millage was necessary to fund increases in salaries for fire fighters because they have had difficulty recruiting and especially retaining junior fire fighters.   The 5.5 increase in the bond millage was necessary to fund the replacement for fire station 1.   Fire station 1 was supposedly made ineffective due to the improvements at Camp and Folly. 

The projected debt service for the new fire station is $414,639.      According to the budget,  the revenue generated next year from the 9.3 bond millage will be $1,228,140.   That is $132,000 per mil.   The millage needed to pay interest and principal on the bonds for the new fire station, therefore, is approximately 3.2 mils.   That is 2.2 mils less than the increase the Commission and the public were told was necessary.   This is very close to the extra 2 mils reported to me by the former CFO. 

If we look at the budget proposal from the new CFO, it includes $134,000 of bond millage for future capital leases.   In other words, the District plans to continue to collect approximately 1 mil for interest and principle for money it might borrow for equipment it might purchase.     They also project a surplus in the debt service of $128,000.  That is they are collecting more debt millage than the interest and principal payments they must make.  Together this surplus and the "future capital leases" make up 2 extra mils.

As for the operating budget, the District has a policy of paying some portion of retiree health cost.   The cost is expected to be $170,000 next year.  The Commissioners have been led to understand that the District is obligated to build up a fund to pay this benefit for future retirees.   At the Ways and Means Committee meeting last week, the Human Resources Officer told the Commissioners that they are obligated to pay the employer's share of employee health benefits to their retirees.   The District's new outside Auditor has been telling the Commission that most local governments cannot afford this and that they need to look at scaling the benefit back.   Many Commissioners are interested in reviewing the policy.   The District Employee manual shows that the District may pay a part of retiree health cost if the Commission approves and funds are available.  So no retiree has actually been promised anything.  Further, state regulations do not require local governments like the District to pay any health benefit to retirees.   It appears that "staff" has not been providing accurate information to the Commission. 

Last year, the Commission contributed $100,000 of taxpayer money  to start building a fund to pay future retiree health benefits.   The draft budget proposes that an additional $268,000 be added to bring it up to $368,000.   That increase is almost exactly 2 mils of property tax, though some of it may be funded out of the sewer fee increase.   It is hard to understand why so much is being committed to a program that is not required and may be greatly restricted if not eliminated by the Commission.   The Town of James Island does not provide retiree health benefits.

As far as spending on operations, there are modest increases in most areas except Administration where there is a very large increase and fire protection where there is virtually no increase.

Administrative                                 18.8%
Fire Protection                                    .6%  (Yes, that is less than 1%)
Fleet                                                   5.8%
Solid Waste                                         5.2%
Wastewater                                          5.1%

That does not seem very balanced and some might question whether this has less to do with District needs and more to do with the Commission being forced to overrule its District Administrator in order to keep our Fire Chief on the job.     

I certainly hope that the Commissioners will reduce the bond millage to what is actually needed and also reduce the operating millage at least 1 mil.   An overall 3 mil decrease looks very feasible.   That would be a bit more than a 4% cut in property tax, reversing approximately 1/3 of last year's excessive property tax increase.

This does not mean that rising costs may not require future property tax increases. The Commission and the Town are working to allow for a Town credit against the JIPSD property tax.   We are also working to give everyone in the District an opportunity to return to the Town so that they can benefit as well.   Needed legislation passed the SC House this year and will come to the Senate next year.  The tax credit plan will allow the other sources of revenue available to municipalities to be used to help fund vital services provided by the JIPSD such as fire protection and solid waste collection.

Town 2019-20 Budget Passes Second and Final Reading

    The Town passed its 2019-20 budget on a 4 to 1 vote.   Only Councilman Milliken voted against. 

    The Town plans to spend approximately $4 million in operating funds next year.  That is approximately 8% less than what the Town spent this year. 

     The most significant new expenditure is for fire protection and solid waste collection services.   The James Island Public Service (JIPSD) will continue to provide those services to the residents of the Town, but the Town will help pay part of the cost on behalf of our residents.   The total amount budgeted for next year is approximately $1 million.   At our last meeting with JIPSD representatives, they said they preferred monthly payments which would be about $85,000 per month.

     In exchange, the JIPSD will allow the Town to provide a credit against the JIPSD line on the Charleston County property tax bill. The total of the credits for all the Town taxpayers will add up to the total amount the Town pays for services. The typical homeowner in the Town will see a 30% reduction in the property tax paid to the JIPSD and so an approximate 15%  saving on property tax overall. 

     The Town's own millage will remain unchanged at 20.   The Town again will provide a 100% property tax credit so the net amount of property tax paid to the Town will remain zero.

     Another major expense for the Town is law enforcement.   The Town plans to spend $250,000 on the Island Sheriff's Patrol, maintaining the increased presence initiated last summer.

     The Town plans to spend approximately $1.4 million on capital improvements--including drainage projects, new sidewalks, and a picnic shelter and restrooms at Pinckney Park. 

      Some of these capital projects will be funded out of Town savings, but at the end of the year, we expect to have approximately $4.5 million left in various funds balances.   The Town is debt free, having paid off the new Town Hall this spring.

Sidewalk Repairs on Fort Johnson

Town contractors are out today repairing sidewalks on Fort Johnson Road today.  Technically, the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is responsible for keeping the sidewalks on SCDOT roads in repair.   That includes Fort Johnson Road.   However, SCDOT puts maintenance of sidewalks low on its list of priorities.   In fact, when the Town has constructed new sidewalks on SCDOT roads, we have been required to sign an agreement promising to maintain them.   Plainly, SCDOT has neglected its sidewalks on Fort Johnson Road for decades and the Town has requested repairs for several years now.   We finally bit the bullet and are using Town funds to make some needed repairs. 

Rethink Folly News

The first major improvement coming out of the Rethink Folly Road plan is a sidewalk in the Commercial Core of Folly Road--between Ellis Creek and Prescott Street.   The Town of James Island, the City of Charleston, and Charleston County  have all committed to making significant financial contributions and we obtained a complete streets grant of federal money from the Berkeley-Charleston-Dorchester Council of Governments.   Charleston County Transportation took over management of the project from the Town and hired the Reveer Group as engineering consultants.

The Steering Committee had approved a proposal for an eight foot sidewalk on the west side of Folly road running from Ellis Creek to Pittsford Street.   Because of difficulties in relocated the power poles in the segment between Camp Road an Pittsford Street, Charleston County Transportation recommended putting the sidewalk on the east side of Folly Road between Camp Road and George Griffith.  The Steering Committee recommended that the sidewalk be 7 feet wide in this segment, which will be entirely on existing SCDOT right-of-way.  The proposal includes a crosswalk at George Griffith, but the steering committee made it clear that it needs to be a robust and safe crossing.  The project also includes a widening and painting of the bike lanes in this area of Folly Road.   By keeping the entire sidewalk on SCDOT right-of-way in this segment, more funding will be available to improve the bike lanes and the crosswalk.   

The Steering Committee also recommended that the City of Charleston and Charleston County adopt the Town's revision of the Folly Road overlay to include a multi-use path on any new development or redevelopment on Folly Road.   The long term goal is to have multi-use paths on both sides of Folly Road from Wappoo Cut to the City of Folly Beach.   

Finally, the Steering Committee recommended that the Town of James Island, the City of Charleston, Charleston County, and the City of Folly Beach hire the Toole Design Group as a consultant to manage the Rethink Folly Road Plan.   The intention is not to replace Charleston County Transportation's role in the current or future infrastructure projects, but instead to work on other elements of the plan especially marketing and business outreach.   The Town of James Island is managing the consultant contract, with finance being shared by the four constituent governments.   Town Council has approved the MOU with Charleston County, the City of Charleston, and Folly Beach and also approved the contract with the Toole Design Group.

Brantley Park Progress

The Charleston County Greenbelt Advisory Board voted unanimously to recommend that County Council approve the Town of James Island and City of Charleston's application to use Greenbelt funds to purchase the property at the corner of Folly Road and Brantley Drive for "Brantley Park."   They did make the recommendation conditional on the municipalities providing public access to the dock on the property. 

This is a complication because the dock straddles the line between the proposed park and the neighboring property.   Further, the current dock is permitted as a residential dock and to make it public it must be permitted as a community dock. 

Everyone on James Island owes our Councilwoman Jenny Honeycutt thanks for her efforts to move this project forward.   It will go to County Council's Finance Committee next week and then the Council Council.

The City and Town still have work to do.   Negotiations with the property owner continue.   Still, approval by the Greenbelt Board was an important step forward in this joint effort by the Town of James Island and the City of Charleston to improve Folly Road.

Progress in Reuniting the Town--SC House Passes Contiguity Bill

The South Carolina House of Representatives unanimously passed House Bill 3661 today.   This bill will provide an opportunity for residents of the unincorporated area of James Island to rejoin the Town.   This is an important step forward, and we should all give a big thank you to Representative Peter McCoy for shepherding this bill though the House. 

However, the companion bill in the South Carolina Senate, S. 669, must also pass.  Unfortunately, the Senate (and House) finished up their business today and cannot consider the bill until next year.   We will need a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee, get a favorable recommendation from there, and then get a vote by the full Senate.   Governor McMaster must then sign the bill for it to become law.

The bill clarifies the legal definition of contiguity so that if a property is in the same special purpose district as a municipality and the property would be contiguous with the municipality but for a break in the contiguity of the special purpose district, then the property is contiguous with the municipality.   This clarification only applies if the special purpose district has an elected governing body and and the municipality is entirely within the special purpose district.    Contiguity is important because it is a requirement for annexation.

Annexation on James Island by the City of Charleston has created breaks in the contiguity of the James Island Public Service District (JIPSD.)    The Town is entirely included within part of the JIPSD.   The unincorporated areas of James Island that were in the Town in 2011 are separated from the Town by these breaks in the contiguity of the JIPSD.   The bill would allow the Town to annex properties directly across these breaks either by petition of the individual property owner or else by annexation election.

Please reach out to Senator Campsen who represents the southern portion of the Town and unincorporated area of James Island and Senator Senn who represents the northern portion of the Town and unincorporated area of James Island.   Thank Senator Campsen for filing a companion bill and ask both of them to work to give the former residents of the Town the opportunity to vote to return to the Town. 

The JIPSD Commissioners who voted for a resolution in support of HB 3661 also deserve thanks.   The previous Commissioners refusal to support this effort (and behind the scenes opposition) made things much more difficult in Columbia. 

Camp Road Library Building

Charleston County Council has offered to lease the Camp Road Library building to the Town for $1 per year.   I think all of us in the Town should be very grateful to Charleston County Council for making this kind offer.   Also, please thank our Councilwoman Jenny Honeycutt for her success in persuading the majority of County Council to approve this offer.

However, it is important to understand that the lease agreement does not allow the Town to provide library services.   This agreement will go to Town Council at our May 16 meeting.   I plan to vote in favor.

After County Council selected the Grimball Road site for the new library branch on James Island, Town Council has consistently advocated keeping the existing branch open as well.    Former County Councilman Joe Qualey worked to keep the Camp Road branch open.   Our new County Councilwoman, Jenny Honeycutt did the same.   Unfortunately, she could not find a majority of County Council that was willing to provide the funding necessary to keep the Camp Road branch open as well as fund the new and larger James Island branch opening on Grimball Road.   She was able to find a majority willing to lease the building to the Town at a nominal cost--$1 per year.

While it was apparent that County Council was not willing to fund two libraries on James Island, and that only the new, larger, Grimball Road facility would be funded, we had hoped that the County Library would be willing to contract with the Town and continue to provide at least some library services at the Camp Road site at Town expense.   Our preliminary contact with the acting Director of the Library was very positive.

The Town received a lease agreement last month that included as a possible use, "library services funded by the Town."   That agreement was included in the agenda packet for our April meeting.  However, at the very last minute, the Charleston County Library Board contacted Charleston County and insisted that the lease agreement be changed to remove library services as a possible use, prevent the use of the name "library" in the name of the Town facility, and to prevent any County funds or County staff be used at the facility.   While we understood that no County funds would be used, we had hoped that we could pay to have County (library) staff provide services.   

Town Council went ahead and approved the original lease agreement, rather than the last minute modification.   We hoped that County Council would agree with our position.   I believe that Councilwoman Honeycutt supported our position but the majority sided with the Library Board.   Therefore, the Town has a great opportunity to have a building at nominal cost that we can use for any educational purpose.  Unfortunately, library services are not included.   I believe that the Library Board wants to make sure that James Islanders will use the new branch at Grimball Road.  I certainly plan to do so.

This summer, the Town will hold a charrette to obtain public input about uses of the building.   Please be on the lookout for your chance to share your opinion.    

Town and JIPSD Sign MOU for Tax Credits

At the end of January, the JIPSD Commission voted 7 to 1 to approve a Memorandum of Understanding  (MOU) with the Town to work towards having the Town pay the JIPSD for a portion of the cost of providing fire protection and solid waste collection services to the residents of the Town in exchange for the JIPSD allowing the Town to provide a credit against the property taxes levied by the JIPSD in the Town's area of jurisdiction.   Town Council also voted 4 to 1 to authorize the agreement.

Representatives of the Town and the JIPSD met in late February.   The JIPSD Commission had approved joint representation of  both the Town and the JIPSD by the Pope-Flynn law firm.   The Commission Chair and Secretary and I signed a joint representation agreement.  Also at that meeting he JIPSD's acting general attorney recommended that the MOU be shortened.   That task was completed and the shortened document approved.  Commission Chair Alan Laughlin and I signed the MOU this week.

Our joint attorney approached the Charleston County Auditor in early March.   The Auditor will be responsible for modifying the tax bills going out in jurisdiction of the Town so that the credit will reduce the amount paid by Town taxpayers to the County Treasurer and so the amount paid over to the JIPSD.   The Auditor's office is working on the necessary modifications in its computer software and the County legal staff is reviewing the proposal. 

Town Council held its public hearing for the 2019-2020 budget   I asked for  $1 million for fire protection and solid waste collection services.   It passed first reading on a 4 to 1 vote.   Second and final reading will be at the Town's May meeting.   The tax credits will result in a 30% reduction in what Town homeowners pay in JIPSD property tax and an overall 15% property tax cut.

Our attorney from Pope-Flynn is developing the Cost-Sharing agreement.   Two important items to be setting is when and how the payments will be made by the Town to the JIPSD and also the amount of an "administration fee" to be paid by the Town to the JIPSD for the cost of administering the agreement.   The Cost Sharing Agreement will return to the JIPSD Commission and Town Council for approval.  We are still on schedule for tax credits to appear on the property tax bills going out in October.

Why Not Wait a Little--Riverland Terrace May Soon Have a Choice

Should Riverland Terrace join the City of Charleston? Some may think that it is the answer to the periodic tree trimming that the neighborhood has suffered through the years.   As part of its franchise agreement with the City of Charleston, Dominion (formerly SCE&G) keeps funds available for nonstandard power service, including burying power lines. 

The Town also has a franchise agreement with Dominion and is looking into burying some power lines on James Island--on Folly Road between Ellis Creek and Eugene Gibbs Drive (near Chick-Fil-A.) It is part of the ReThink Folly Road project which will require moving some power lines to construct the planned sidewalk.  The estimated cost was $60,000 per pole, with half of the cost coming from the Town's nonstandard service fund with Dominion, requiring that the Town come up with an additional $30,000 per pole.  (Because the cost of moving the poles, which is $10,000, will be covered as part of the overall project expense, the Town needs approximately $20,000 extra per pole.)  We also discovered that not only must the property owners provide an easement to place boxes, there will also be a cost to connecting to the service--from $10,000 to $15,000 depending on the age of the building.   Mount Pleasant took years to finally get underground service along Coleman Boulevard.    The total cost for this one segment on the west side of Folly Road was more than $1 million with likely delays of several years if all of the lines must be buried.   At best we can afford to do part.  I think it is likely that most of the poles will be moved rather than buried though we hope that some portion of the lines in the area will be placed underground soon. We will be reviewing our Town's development standards so that as Folly Road businesses are redeveloped over the years,  putting the power lines under ground will be required as part of redevelopment.

Will the City of Charleston consider newly annexed houses in Riverland Terrace the priority over the entire City of Charleston for using monies from their  nonstandard service fund with Dominion?   And that is just 50% of the cost.   Will City Council expend money from its general fund for the match?   Maybe, but there are plenty of neighborhoods in the City that are likely to feel that their power lines should go underground first, if that is the new policy.

This year the JIPSD increased its property tax in the the Town and unincorporated area by 13%.   While the total millage in the unincorporated area is still lower than in the City of Charleston, the City's LOST property tax credit brings down the tax bill for a homeowner so that it is 3% less than what is paid by those in the JIPSD.  But that is just this year.  Charleston City Council has increased its property tax millage so that next year, homeowners in the City will be back to paying more property tax than those in the unincorporated area and in the Town. 

Further, just last November, the voters of the Town and unincorporated area, including Riverland Terrace, voted in three new JIPSD Commissioners.   I think it is very likely that there will be some roll back of the JIPSD millage increase.  Further, the new majority on the Commission is working on an agreement with the Town to provide a credit against JIPSD property tax.   I am confident that this will be complete by the time next year's tax bills come out in October.   As a result, while the total millage in the Town will only be slightly lower than in the City of Charleston, after the Town credits are applied, a homeowner will pay 31% less in the Town than in the City of Charleston! (The Town provides a 100% credit against its own property tax millage.)

What good does that do for those in Riverland Terrance?   Everyone in the unincorporated area of Riverland Terrace was in the Town in 2011.   We want you back.   And the Town has been pursuing legislation in Columbia that will make that possible.   HB 3661 passed the House Judiciary Committee unanimously.   It is now going to the Senate Judiciary Committee.   Representative McCoy is confident it will pass the full House.   To become law, it must also pass the South Carolina Senate and be signed by the Governor.   After that, the process to return the unincorporated area of James Island, including Riverland Terrace, to the Town of James Island can begin.

If Riverland Terrace rejoins the Town, homeowners will be able to receive Town tax credits and so have substantially lower property taxes.   More importantly, you only have to look across Maybank Highway to see how the City has seen development on James Island.   The only City Councilwoman who lives on James Island tried to get a moratorium in areas on James Island prone to flooding.  Lost at City Council.  In my opinion, the City has improved on development issues recently.  Will that last?  The Town has never allowed that kind of density.    The Town will protect your neighborhood.

The Town has been very successful in leveraging our limited funds to promote projects that improve our quality of life on James Island.  Look at where the new sidewalks have come in over the last five years.   It is important to have a local government focused on our Island.

Riverland Terrace will play a much more important role as part of our small James Island community than as just one of the  hundreds of neighborhoods in the City of Charleston.   The City of Charleston has huge sources of revenue, but they also have massive expenses.   Just last year, the Town approached the City of Charleston about improved crosswalks on Folly at Camp and also at Eugene Gibbs.   They agreed.   We paid our $60,000.   The City couldn't follow through and come up with their smaller share of  the money. 

My advice to those in Riverland Terrace and in the rest of the unincorporated area is to be patient.  If you annex to the City, then you won't be able to change your mind.   Wait a bit, see what develops, and make a decision when you may well have a choice.