City okays tax rate, budgets

The Clarendon City Council approved its tax rate and budget for the coming fiscal year during its regular meeting last Thursday, September 15.

Aldermen adopted a tax rate of $0.610083, which is expected to bring in 3.56 percent more revenue to the city. The city budget was also unanimously passed by the council.

The council also considered the Clarendon Economic Development Corporation’s EDC budget and Hotel Occupancy Tax budget and the Clarendon Chamber of Commerce’s Hotel Occupancy Tax budget. Both were approved.

Publicity and Tourism Agreements with the Chamber and CEDC were considered and renewed for a two-year period. The Chamber receives 25 percent of the city’s Hotel Occupancy Tax revenue and the CEDC administers the other 75 percent.

An agreement for consultation services with David Dockery was approved. Dockery is retiring as City Administrator at the end of September but will stay on part time for a limited time as a consultant to help manage projects that are already underway.

The council considered upgrading handrails scheduled for the Downtown Revitalization Project. It’s possible that excess grant funds may be allowed to be used for the handrails. In the event that’s not approved, the city agreed to split the cost of the upgrades with the CEDC.

Paving bids were considered for work being done on the east side of town. Bryers Paving had the low big at just over $87,000. The next lowest bid was close to $113,000.

In public comments, Cindy Cockerham address the board about the health and safety hazard of an abandoned house on the southwest corner of Sims and Third street across from Bronco Stadium.