GREENVILLE – Thank you to those who voted Tuesday. The RENEWAL levy passed 64.43% – 35.57%.
I believe it was very important to us as a city, and that’s why we worked so hard on this! To those who voted, I want to thank them.
Simply, I want to remind everyone that this isn’t an increase at all in our current real estate tax, of which the City of Greenville receives only 10.16% of the total amount of Real Estate Tax any property owner in Greenville pays. It’s a small portion of the amount the City of Greenville depends upon in order to provide the current level of services and amenities our citizens currently realize.
Although the City Income Tax is the largest source of funding to our General Operating Fund, without this RENEWAL levy passing, $386,000 of our General Fund would have disappeared, and some cuts to City services would have had to be made. That could have had an impact on anything from police and fire protection, street maintenance and paving, maintenance of our parks and swimming pool, our city’s annual fireworks display, and the enjoyment of our downtown Christmas lights and decorations, just to name some.
That could have had a huge negative impact on the City of Greenville now, and on any future economic development in our city, as any company that would have any interest in locating in Greenville would see a situation of having fewer services provided and available to them.
We need to continue to move forward towards our future, not in reverse. We need to strive for excellence, not mediocrity. Once again, thank you, and thank you for allowing me the privilege of serving as your Mayor.
