AN UPDATE FROM MOUNT PLEASANT CITY MANAGER – ED THATCHER

Pictured aboive: Mount Pleasant City Manager Ed Thatcher (bottom left) and members of the Mount Pleasant City Council.

BALANCED BUDGET FOR FY 2021-2022 ADOPTED

Friday, October 1 marks a New Year at City Hall. That’s the day the Fiscal Year 2021-2022 budget becomes effective following months of hard work by our City Council and staff in open meetings. The process also included a Public Hearing at the September 7 City Council meeting prior to being adopted at the September 14 meeting.

The balanced budget that ensures the level of services citizens expect and deserve, while also lowering the tax rate for the second consecutive year. Our Council and staff have a firm commitment to provide exceptional service with minimal increase to the tax rate. Specifically, the FY 2021-2022 budget is based upon a tax rate of $0.3620 per $100 of valuation, which is a 1.58% rate decrease from last year’s tax rate of $0.3678 per $100 of valuation or by 0.0058 cents, or an 11% decrease from the no new revenue rate.

The budget provides for critical infrastructure improvements and continued public safety service by our valued Fire and Police Departments, as well as the things that make our community special like our beautiful parks and Christmas and Spring celebrations.

In upcoming City Manager Updates, I will dive deeper into areas covered by our budget.

In the meantime, please plan to come help plan the future of Mount Pleasant at the Community Forum held October 9 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Civic Center.  This come-and-go event is an important part of the process to update the City’s Comprehensive Plan and develop a new Parks and Recreation Plan, both of which are essential tools that set and guide policy for new development and redevelopment, programs, infrastructure and more.

We want to hear citizens’ thoughts on what they believe the city needs for young children, teenagers, adults and seniors. The family-friendly forum will have activities for all ages, and refreshments will be served. The Civic Center is located at 1800 N. Jefferson Ave.

It is an honor to serve you and our City Councilmembers, who are volunteer servants working very hard on behalf of our great city. Please contact me anytime at ethatcher@mpcity.net or 903-575-4000.

Happy New (Budget) Year!

Ed Thatcher,
City Manager, City of Mount Pleasant