Saluda may go against the belt-tightening grain of government budget cuts. The board of commissioners will have to make a decision on whether or not to purchase property for a new city hall and raise taxes or do something else. A study indicated renovating the existing city hall would cost around $282,000. Seeping water left unchecked has caused code issues with the structure. In the meantime, the town has the option of buying commercial space on the main drag while putting $10,000 annually toward refurbishing the old city hall. The Local Government Commission must be presented with the purchase price for the new facility before Saluda can close on the sale.
On the supply side, the commissioners will have to decide if they want a 6-cent or a 10-cent property tax increase with a 3% increase in garbage collection fees. Garbage rates have been flat since the last 3% increase way back in 2009. Property taxes have also not increased since the last 8-cent boost in the same year. On the bright side, water rates are not expected to increase.
