UPDATE: Darlington City Council approved second and final reading of the FY2020-2021 Budget as well as several fee increases on Monday, June 29, 2020, during a Special City Council meeting at City Hall. Details can be found here.

A public hearing of the proposed city budget and fee increases will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Harmon Baldwin Recreation Center, 300 Sanders St. We will follow federal social distancing guidelines during this hearing as required.

Due to social distancing guidelines, there will be screening procedure prior to entering the facility, that may include, but not limited to,

• Temperature reading;
• Mask requirement;
• Metal detector;
• Seats spaced six to eight feet apart;
• Seats may be assigned;
• Once comments are made to council, you may be asked to leave to allow others time and space to be heard by City Council.

Find the full proposed budget here.

June 2: City Council approved First Reading of the FY2020-2021 Budget

June 25: Public Hearing on the FY2020-2021 Budget at 6 p.m. at Harmon Baldwin Recreation Center (300 Sanders Street)

June 29: Second and Final Reading of the FY2020-2021 Budget, 6 p.m. at City Hall (400 Pearl Street)

August 1: Proposed fee increases take effect

TUNE IN to City Council Meetings online on the City of Darlington Facebook page or on YouTube.  You do not have to have an account to view meetings.

• Millage (Remain the Same) = No property tax increase
• Water & Sewer Rates (Increase 40% and 60% respectively) = $9.55/month increase, residential & commercial
• Sanitation Fees (Increase 28%) = $6/month increase for residential customers. Commercial customers will see a similar increase
• Storm Water Fees = $2.50/month for residential customers.  Commercial rates will increase based on square foot of impervious surface with a minimum charge of $25.

Total annual estimated increase: $216.60 per household

These additional collections, above and beyond service costs, will be used to make proactive progress on repairing the City’s infrastructure, i.e. water lines, sewer lines, storm drainage, sidewalks, and streets.  City Council and staff will develop a priority list for each system based on condition and use.

There are five levels of Priority. Below are the estimates for Capital Projects with Priority 1 or 2, meaning that the projects are necessary to operate or solve severe operational concerns in terms of cost or performance of the system.

• North Main Street WP – Inspect & repair well and VFD, overall renovations
• Pine Street WP – Inspect & repair well, fuel tank, overall renovations
• Hampton Street WP – Inspect & repair well and VFD, overall renovations
• Bypass WP – Inspect & repair well and media, overall renovations

• $126,000
• $125,000
• $70,000
• $185,500

• Black Creek Crossing Repair
• Joe Louis Blvd & Alltel Pump Station Upgrades- EDA/RIA Grant
• Grove Hill Main Pump Station Upgrades
• Treatment Plant Bed 1A Upgrades to fix infiltration
• Treatment Plant Bed 1B Upgrades to fix infiltration
• Treatment Plant Bed 2 Upgrades to fix infiltration
• Treatment Plant Aeration Times & Repairs to SO2

• $300,000
• $1,500,000
• $700,000
• $95,000
• $90,000
• $230,000
• $27,000

According to City Code of Ordinances Sec. 70-2:

The city will not pick up appliances such as, but not limited to, refrigerators, ranges, water heaters, freezers, dishwashers, trash compactors, washers, dryers, air conditioners and commercial large appliances. The city will not pick up furniture or any household items, all of which must be disposed of by the owner, occupant, contractor or vendor.

The City proposes adding a fee of $100 for violations of this section of the Code.

• Residential customers will see a 28% increase of $6 per month per household.
• Commercial customers will see similar increases.

• Residential customers will see an increase of $2.50 per month per household.
• Commercial customers will see an increase of the minimum fee to $25 per month. Fees will be calculated based on the square footage of impervious surface on the property.

Citizen comments on any topic, including the budget, are accepted in writing via email to rock@cityofdarlington.com, dropped off at the drop box at City Hall (400 Pearl Street), or mailed to: City Planning   Attn: Public Comment (P.O. Box 57 Darlington, SC 29540).

Please include your name and daytime phone number with your comments.  No anonymous comments will be read to City Council.  Comments are continuously collected, but must be received three (3) business days prior to any scheduled meeting to be read aloud.

Want to be heard in person?

A public hearing of the proposed city budget and fee increases will be held at 6 p.m. Thursday, June 25, at Harmon Baldwin Recreation Center, 300 Sanders St. We will follow federal social distancing guidelines during this hearing as required.

Due to social distancing guidelines, there will be screening procedure prior to entering the facility, that may include, but not limited to,

• Temperature reading;
• Mask requirement;
• Metal detector;
• Seats spaced six to eight feet apart;
• Seats may be assigned;
• Once comments are made to council, you may be asked to leave to allow others time and space to be heard by City Council.