041921 Virtual Study Session Mins Adopted • N orte
Augusta
i ( :oa 4ii ia's Rjucrf a )n t
MINUTES OF APRIL 19,2021
Robert A. Pettit, Mayor
J. Robert Brooks, Councilmember
Pat C. Carpenter, Councilmember
Fletcher L. Dickert, Councilmember
David W. McGhee, Councilmember
Eric H. Presnell, Councilmember
Kevin W. Toole, Councilmember
ORDER OF BUSINESS
• VIRTUAL STUDY SESSION
The virtual study session for the City Council meeting of the City of North Augusta of April 19,
2021,having been duly publicized, was called to order by Mayor Pettit at 6:00 p.m. and streamed
online for public viewing at the City Facebook page:"City of North Augusta—Public Information"
and City YouTube page: "City of North Augusta Public Information." The study session
adjourned at 6:54 p.m.
Per Section 30-4-80(e) notice of the meetings was sent out by email to the current maintained
"Agenda Mailout" list consisting of news media outlets and individuals or companies requesting
notification. Notice of the meetings was also posted on the outside doors of the Municipal Center,
the main bulletin board of the Municipal Center located on the first floor, and the City of North
Augusta website.
Members present were Mayor Pettit, Councilmembers Brooks, Carpenter, Dickert, McGhee,
Presnell, and Toole.
Also in attendance were James S. Clifford, City Administrator; Rachelle Moody, Assistant City
Administrator; Kelly F. Zier, City Attorney; Cammie T. Hayes, Chief Financial Officer; Thomas
C. Zeaser. Director of Engineering and Public Works; Richard L. Meyer, Director of Parks,
Recreation, and Tourism; John C. Thomas, Director of Public Safety; Lillian E. (Libby) Hodges,
• Director of Planning and Development; J.D. McCauley, Manager of Human Resources; Ricky
Jones, Manager of Information Technology and Sharon Lamar, City Clerk.
Minutes of Study Session of April 19,2021
ITEM 1. CITY COUNCIL AGENDA: Items on the April 19,2021 Council
• Agenda- Council Discussion
City Administrator, Jim Clifford, led Council's discussion of the April 19, 2021 regular meeting
agenda.
ITEM 2 ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Riverside Village at Hammond's Ferry —
Council Update
Cammie Hayes, Chief Financial Officer, shared a quarterly update with Council on the financial
status of the Riverside Village at Hammond's Ferry project. Ms. Hayes discussed the identified
sources for the bond payments and included comparisons of pre and post COVID revenues. The
May 2021 payment of$1.6 million was remitted on April 15, 2021. The next bond payment of
$2.3 million is due November 2021.
Please see ATTACHMENT#2 for a copy of Continuing Disclosure Requirements:North Augusta
Public Facilities Corporation/City of North Augusta Series 2017B-Voluntary Filingfor the Fiscal
Quarter Ended March 31, 2021
ITEM 3 COMMUNITY PROMOTION• Aiken County's 15011 Celebration-
Presentation
. Phillip Strawbridge,Chairman of the Aiken County Historical Commission,presented information
to Council about Aiken County's 150'h Celebration
Please see ATTACHMENT#3 for copy of the presentation.
The study session adjourned at 6:54 pm.
APPROVED THIS DAY OF Respectfully submitted,
(/1 Sharon Lamar
Robert A. Petti , Mayor City Clerk
•
ATTACHMENT #2
Continuing Disclosure Requirements
• North Augusta Public Facilities Corporation/City of North Augusta Series 2017B
Voluntary Filing for the Fiscal Quarter Ended March 31, 2021
Assessed Value of Taxable Property
The assessed value of all taxable real and personal property in the City for each of the last five years available is set
forth in the following table:
Assessed Value of Taxable Property
Fiscal Year Ended Tax Personal
December3l Year Real Property Propertylll Total
2019 2018 $ 83,448,499 $ 31,654,277 $ 115,102,776
2018 2017 82,341,248 27,375,296 109,716,544
2017 2016 79,819,959 26,336,665 106,156,624
2016 2015 73,065,987 21,623,421 94,689,408
2015 2014 70,710,810 20,984,447 91,695,257
Ill Due to a law passed in 1980 by the S.C. General Assembly that provided for
the billing and collection of personal property taxes on motor vehicles on a
staggered basis according to expiration of the license tag,the City uses
different tax years for real and personal property taxes.
�x Rates
The millage imposed in the City in each of the last five tax years is set forth below:
Tax Rates
Fiscal Year Ended Tax Operating Debt Service Total City
December3l Yearj3i Millage Millage Millage
2021 2020 73.50 - 73.50
2020 2019 73.50 - 73.50
2019 2018 73.50 - 73.50
2018 2017 73.50 - 73.50
2017 2016 70.50 - 70.50
11 Due to a law passed in 1980 by the S.C. General Assembly that provided
forthe billing and collection of personal property taxes on motorvehicles
on a staggered basis according to expiration of the license tag,the City
uses different tax years for real and personal property taxes.
•
(continued)
City General Fund Budget
• The original General Fund Budget for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2021 was adopted on November 2, 2020 by
City Council and is shown in the following table:
Annual General Fund Budget for Fiscal Year Ending 12/31/21
Revenues
Ad valorem property taxes $ 7,854,050
Licenses and Permits 6,211,481
Fines and forfeitures 1,120,000
Charges forservices 1,105,915
Intergovernmental 741,758
Miscellaneous 863,222
Transfers 1,366,672
Total Revenues $ 19,263,098
Expenditures
General Government $ 6,013,563
Public Safety 8,844,049
Public Works 1,645,806
Parks, Recreation and Tourism 2,759,680
Total Expenditures $ 19,263,098
•
Ten Largest Taxpayers in the City
The ten largest taxpayers in the City,the assessed value for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2019 of the taxable
property of each located within the City,and the amount of 2018 taxes paid to the City are as follows:
Ten Largest Taxpayers in the City 12/31/2019
Taxpayer Assessed Value Taxes Paid
S.C. El e ctri c&Gas Co. $ 3,449,210 $ 253,517
Allnex Industries,Inc. 2,602,230 191,264
Wal-Mart,Inc. 2,512,010 184,633
SUSO 3 Augusta,LP 1,224,300 89,986
SRP Federal Credit Union 1,111,850 81,721
Halocarbon Chemicals,Inc. 1,076,300 79,108
CVS SC Distribution,Inc. 724,870 53,278
NHC Healthcare 712,590 52,375
Lowes Home Centers, Inc. 580,550 42,670
The Kroger Company 562,320 41,331
•
(continued)
Tax Collection Record of the City
The following table shows the amount of taxes levied for City purposes, including additions and abatements,taxes
Olected as of December 31 of the year following the year in which the levy was made, and the amount of delinquent taxes
collected in the City for the fiscal years shown:
Tax Collection Record of the City
Collected within the Fiscal
Year of the Levy Total Collections to Date
Fiscal Year Ended Taxes Levied Percentage Collections in Percentage
December 31 Tax Year I'I for Fiscal Year Amount of Levy Subsequent Years Amount of Levy
2019 2018 $ 9,460,054 $ 8,404,331 99.349/o $ - $ 8,404,331 99.34%
2018 2017 8,064,166 8,018,222 99.43% 14,731 8,032,953 99.61%
2017 2016 7,484,042 7,446,013 99.49% 8,288 7,454,301 99.60%
2016 2015 7,026,901 6,992,988 99.52% 9,980 7,002,968 99.66%
2015 2014 6,804,705 6,762,260 99.38% 21,510 6,783,770 99.69%
Due to a law passed in 1980 by the S.C.General Assembly that provided for the billing and collection of personal property
taxes on motor vehicles on a staggered basis according to expiration of the license tag,the City uses different tax years for
real and personal property taxes.
Outstanding Indebtedness
Outstanding Indebtedness 12/31/2019
• General Obligation Debt $ -
Tax Increment Debt 43,437,000 Includes Series 2017A Bonds *see note below
Outstanding Installment Purchase Revenue
Bonds 69,450,000 Series 2017B Bonds*see note below
Outstanding Lease Purchase Obligations
2020 848,264
2021 663,520
2022 487,109
2023 270,634
Subtotal 2,269,527
Interest (113,076)
Present Value of minimum lease payments 2,156,451
Revenue Debt
Water and Wastewater Bonds,Series 2014A 10,290,474 Matures February 1, 2035
Water and Wastewater Bonds,Series 2015A 8,599,506 Matures December 1,2036
*The North Augusta Public Facilities Corporation purchased the City's 2017A TIF Obligation ($43,412,000 outstanding as of
12/31/2019) pursuant to which the City makes semi-annual payments to the Corporation from TIF Revenues.These payments
are assigned to the Trustee for the Series 2017B Bonds and provide a credit against installment payments due in each year.
The City's legal debt margin as of 12/31/2019 equaled$9,208,222.
•
(continued)
Identified Sources of Installment Payments
General Obligation Bonds The City is authorized by the State Constitution to incur general obligation indebtedness
Othout voter approval in an amount not exceeding eight percent of the assessed value of all taxable property in the City for
any corporate purpose of the municipality.As of 3/31/21 the City's entire eight percent capacity is available.
On November 6,2018, a favorable bond referendum was held in the City of North Augusta authorizing the City to issue
not exceeding$10,250,000 of general obligation bonds as part of a favorable Capital Projects Sales Tax referendum. These
bonds were issued in 2020 to construct and equip a public safety headquarters and bond payments will be made from
revenues collected from the capital projects sales tax.
General Obligation Bonds
Fiscal Year Amount
2021(1) $10,250,000
2020 M 10,250,000
2019 -
2018
2017
�1 UNAUDITED
Local Hospitality Taxes City Council, pursuant to the Local Hospitality Tax Act and the Hospitality Tax Ordinance,
established a uniform hospitality tax,which Imposed, effective December 1, 1998, a one percent(1%)tax on the sales of
prepared meals and beverages,including alcoholic beverages, beer and wine, at businesses within the City. Effective
December 1, 2017,the hospitality tax rate was raised to the maximum of two percent (2%)with collections beginning in
lanuary 2018. The reduced collections in 2020 are related to the outbreak of the 2019 Novel Coronavirus Disease("COVID-
Local Hospitality Taxes
Increase in
City Collections
Hospitality over Prior
Fiscal Year Taxes Fiscal Year
20211stQtr1�1 $ 479,070 N/A
20201i1 1,689,045 -5.54%
2019 1,788,174 11.13
2018 1,609,103 118.67
2017 735,845 3.18
2016 713,152 7.27
2015 664,804 9.68
2014 606,121 5.86
(1) UNAUDITED
•
(continued)
Local Accommodations Taxes City Council, pursuant to the Local Accommodations Tax Act and the Accommodations
Tax Ordinance established a local accommodations tax,which imposed, effective December 1, 1998, a three percent(3%)tax
furnishing of accommodations to transients within the City. The reduced collections in 2020 are related to the outbreak of
VID-19.
Local Accommodations Taxes
Increase
(Decrease) in
City Collections
Accommodations over Prior
Fiscal Year Taxes Fiscal Year
2021 1st Qtri'i $ 29,555 N/A
2020 M 141,526 -38.21%
2019 229,047 109.96
2018 109,092 98.70
2017 54,904 7.86
2016 50,904 3.68
2015 49,099 (11.39)
2014 55,410 9.88
Ill UNAUDITED
Tax Increment Revenues The TIF Act authorizes municipalities to incur indebtedness for the purpose of redevelopment
n areas which are or which are threatened to become blighted and to fund the debt service of such indebtedness from the
Omditional tax revenues which result from such redevelopment. Under the TIF Act, all property taxes of all taxing jurisdictions
posed and collected within the Redevelopment Project Area in excess of the amount attributable to the "total initial
equalized assessed value" of all taxable real property in the Redevelopment Project Area shall be paid to the municipality
which shall deposit the taxes into a special tax allocation fund for the purpose of paying redevelopment project costs and
discharging the obligations incurred in the payment of such costs. Certain portions of the taxes deposited to or otherwise
subject to deposit to the special tax allocation fund are disbursed to overlapping taxing entities in accordance with agreements
between the City and political subdivisions pursuant to which they agreed to participate in the TIF on a modified basis.As of
3/31/21, $2,027.51 has been disbursed to overlapping taxing entities.
Tax Increment Revenues
Fiscal Year City TIF Revenues %Growth
20211stQtr $ 1,377,049 N/A
2020"' 1,716,832 113%
2019 804,992 7
2018 751,052 22
2017 613,831 19
2016 516,829 14
2015 453,883 9
2014 417,373 N/A
11 UNAUDITED
•
(continued)
MID Assessments The municipal improvement district(MID District) consists of certain parcels owned by the private
developers within the TIF District where private improvements will be constructed. The City has imposed a special assessment
the parcels in the MID District owned by the private developers. The special assessment has been set on an annual basis at
amount equal to an estimate of the TIF revenues that will result from the private improvement specified in the Master
Development Agreement. 2020 was the first year the special assessments were billed and payable. These assessments are
due to the City no later than May 1 in the year the special assessments are billed to avoid penalty. As of the date of this report,
the special assessments due for tax year 2019 on 13 parcels within the MID District remain unpaid and outstanding as shown in
the table below. Penalties and interest have been assessed on all outstanding MID special assessments for tax year 2019.
Special assessments for tax year 2020 were billed on or about January 27, 2021 and are due and payable in full on or before
May 1, 2021, after which amounts due but unpaid shall begin to accrue interest and penalties.
During November 2020,the 13 parcels with respect to which special assessments for tax year 2019 remained
outstanding were sold at the Aiken County Tax Sale. Six(6)of these parcels went to private bidders (each of whom paid in full
all outstanding taxes,special assessments, penalties and interest,as applicable together with any moneys bid in excess of such
outstanding amounts).The remaining seven (7) parcels which were not sold to private bidders received bids by the City's
Forfeited Land Commission (City FLC)equal to the aggregate amount of outstanding taxes,special assessments, penalties and
interest, as applicable. South Carolina law affords the owners of property subject to tax sale a 12-month optional redemption
period, during which such owner may pay delinquent taxes,special assessments, penalties and interest,as applicable,in full, in
order to retain ownership of such property.These 13 parcels are currently in the 2ntl Quarter of their redemption period. At
the end of the redemption period,if the owner has not exercised its redemption right with respect to any of these parcels,
then (a)with respect to the seven parcels sold to private bidders, any such parcel will be the property of the respective private
bidders and such private bidder, as the owner of the property,will be responsible for payment of all taxes and special
assessments on such parcel,and (b)with respect to the six parcels receiving bids by the City FLC,any such parcel will be subject
to sale by the City FLC in accordance with the terms of South Carolina law and, until sold to a private owner,the City FLC will
not be responsible for payment of taxes and special assessments on such parcel.
• MID Assessments
Fiscal Year
Ended MID MID
December3l Tax Year Assessments Receipts
2021 1st Qtr Ili 2020 $ 777,779 $ -
2020 (i) 2019 1,183,327 413,479
11 UNAUDITED
Parking Revenues Parking revenues are received from certain parking facilities owned or operated by the City
including the Medac Deck, Hotel Deck and various lots owned by the City. Revenues received are netted against expenditures
incurred for operations and maintenance of the parking facilities. The reduced coliections in 2020 are related to the outbreak
of COVID-19.
Parking Revenues
Net %
F2021
cal Year Amount Growth
1st Qtr Ill $ 5,654 N/A
2020(�) 40,380 -69%
2019 128,499 18
2018 108,885 N/A
1 UNAUDITED
•
(continued)
Stadium Revenues Stadium revenues are received from GreenJackets Baseball for performance license fees, retail
space rent, corporate naming rights, and stadium rent. The GreenJackets Baseball 2020 season was canceled on June 30, 2020
�ng with all Minor League Baseball teams. Admissions tax payments are received from the South Carolina Department of
venue(SCDOR).The GreenJackets have scheduled their first home game of the 2021 season for May 4tb.
Stadium Revenues
Performance Corporate
Admissions License Fees Retail Space Naming
Fiscal Year Tax Isl kl Rent(3) Rights I°i Rent(3) Total
2021 1st cttr1�1 $ - $ 4,286 $ - $ - 5 - $ 4,286
2020j1) 12,696 74,894 100,000 100,000 250,000 537,590
2019 71,244 64,884 100,000 100,000 250,000 586,128
2018 18,336 - 100,000 100,000 250,000 468,336
ill UNAUDITED
Ill Revenue stream due 1/31/xx of each yearforthe prior calendaryear
(3)Revenue stream due 4/1/xx of each year
14
i Revenue stream due 12/31/xx of each year
Isi Payments received throughout the yearfrom SCDOR
Please refer to the City of North Augusta's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for additional information about the City. Please also
refer to the City's additional voluntary disclosure related to the Coronavirus(COVID-19)Outbreak.
•
•
ATTACHMENT #3
•
Aiken
CoLmtv Historiad.
I
•
Coopurative Programming ACT0%%Ail.cn
MUSEUM Countds Culhl ral lnctilutiuns
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Traveling Exhibit
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•
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Updated State Historical Marker
The Aiken County Historical Museum and the
Aiken County Historical Society are working
together to write an updated State Historical
Marker,which will be dedicated to the founding
of the county.
The application has been submitted and we are y Ill
awaiting approval of the text from the South 4
Carolina Department of Archives and History. I .�/.� ! f •�
� Once the text has been approved,the marker can
be struck and then installed at the Aiken County j
Government Center.
j I
I
Oral History Projcct
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17 ti211 lr µct"HI r=de",ttrrlptui Itt rem in
.urt•ughanl:u6,r.l vnF. Ih.lr:ya.willl ndn.
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Trolley and/or bus tours of historic sites-"History I—
Hop"events.This would be a one-time event across -� �, ��
two Saturdays in October 2021.The idea behind a
History Hop is that attendees mould be shuttled r
between historic sites in North Augusta on one -=_I
Saturday,and then another Saturday would feature
sites in Aiken If possible,there would be 150'h vt Y•'x
Chemed events going on at the various participating
�_
sites.
i
City of North Augusta=October 9'h-Noon to-k pm -
Cityof Aiken-October 21'a-Noon to d pro
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'IT
1paiI%port prolpam to I qflm, \iI 1 11
counl\,s llislor%
1 lie I I V I INI;,..
fund tilt 1 .-71 '_:r'111
I.,eh I-in't...v-relat,d'LL,t1'.ou gliou I \1 1% 1,
:ount% that an."p,v to ill,-public ill
ralticir.11tv
l ach site,ill 1",prox ided I,ith
i.I nip,and trii I I--ting information It a
JiL-r1III','IJoul; romplrMs their Va4kI-,rt tl,,,i
flw\ I,ill ni,,no a cvrtlicale I completion and.l
from the U*I 1\1
0&,11tal. ��1111411-
LJWI
Founders I)IIIN, Celebration
7
The ACHM staff is working in coordination with
Dan Parent K-5 Social Studies Curriculum
Interventionist,to create an online museum exhibit
that Sth grade students across Aiken County can
explore.
The ACHIM created 48 take-home History Kits
during the month of March for children ages fi-I?
• The kits featured early Aiken County history projects
and other primary resources.The cost of thew kits
was sponsored by Maj.Gen.Irene Trowell-Harris
vam ivl�
Aiken County -Celebrating 150 Years
(1871-202-1)
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t'll 10jt ;Wear,
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• www.AikenCountyl5O.org ALM .
FB-@aikencountv150
IG-@aikencountv 150
Now let's celebrate' �
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803-642-2015
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Lauren Virgo- lvirgo@aikencourAysc.gov
Phillip Strawbridge s pstrawbridgePcamncast.net