City Council meets on budget

By Temple Ligon

City budget readied for public hearing and first reading

On June 7, the city will have a public hearing and a first reading on its budget for the coming fiscal year, 2016-17. The second reading and final adoption is set for June 21.

• Total city operating budget:  $138,800,368, 6.2% gain
• Water/sewer operating fund summary:  $148,467,000, 7.1% gain
• Storm water operating summary:  $7,235,000, 1.8% gain
• Hospitality tax summary, total budget:  $10,795,200
• Accommodations tax:  $2,135,302

On Tuesday, May 17, city council distributed $1,850,000 in hospitality tax funds from the budgeted $10,795,200, according to the tally in The State:

• Columbia Museum of Art:  $1 million
• EdVenture Children’s Museum:  $250,000
• Senior Resource Center:  $135,000
• Columbia City Ballet:  $50,000
• Mentally Ill Recovery Center:  $50,000
• Columbia Opportunity Resources:  $45,000
• City Year:  $45,000
• HIV/AIDS Council:  $40,000
• Efforts to attract national collegiate basketball tournament:  $28,800
• Attract Miss South Carolina pageant to Columbia:  $25,000
• Antioch Senior Center, Healthy Learners, National Collegiate Marching Band competition:  $10,000 each
• Federation for the Blind, Free Medical Clinic:  $9,000 each
• Columbia Council of Neighborhoods:  $7,000
• Alston Wilkes Society:  $6,500