Greenville City Council OKs first budget reading

AT 645 IN TIME FOR NEWS TO GO. WE HAVE A LOOK AT TODAY’S TOP NEWS STORIES. YOUR TRAFFIC AND WEATHER ALL BEFORE YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR. WE START WITH BREAKING NEWS IN GREENWOOD COUNTY, WHERE A HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION IS UNDERWAY AFTER A MAN WAS SHOT. THE CORONER SAYS THEY WERE CALLED TO A HOME ON MANNUS DRIVE IN HODGES LAST NIGHT, IN REFERENCE TO A DOMESTIC DISPUTE THAT TURNED DEADLY. WHEN THEY ARRIVED, THEY FOUND 63 YEAR OLD JAMES STEELE WITH A GUNSHOT WOUND TO THE CHEST. STEELE WAS PRONOUNCED DEAD JUST BEFORE 1045 LAST NIGHT. THE MANNER OF DEATH HAS BEEN RULED A HOMICIDE. THE CORONER’S OFFICE SAYS THE SUSPECTED SHOOTER IS KNOWN, BUT NO NAME OR OTHER INFORMATION WAS RELEASED. GREENWOOD COUNTY DEPUTIES ARE INVESTIGATING. AN INFANT HAS DIED AFTER A DOG ATTACK IN ANDERSON. AN ADULT WAS ALSO HURT. OFFICERS RESPONDED TO A HOME ON WILSON STREET ABOUT 1:00 THURSDAY AFTERNOON, WHERE THEY FOUND TWO VICTIMS A FIVE MONTH OLD BOY AND AN ADULT. BOTH WERE TAKEN TO AN MED FOR TREATMENT, AND THE BABY WAS AIRLIFTED TO PRISMA HOSPITAL IN GREENVILLE. POLICE SAY THE CHILD LATER DIED AND HIS DEATH WAS RULED ACCIDENTAL. THE ADULT VICTIM SUFFERED INJURIES BUT WAS LATER RELEASED FROM THE HOSPITAL. AND POLICE ALSO SAY THE DOG RAN AWAY AFTER THE ATTACK, BUT WAS FOUND IN SECURED. OFFICIALS HAVEN’T RELEASED DETAILS ON WHAT LED UP TO THE ATTACK. THE CITY OF GREENVILLE IS EXPECTED TO ADOPT ITS FISCAL YEAR 2027 BUDGET AT THE CITY COUNCIL MEETING TONIGHT. THE DOCUMENT OUTLINES THE CITY’S PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT YEAR. ISABELLE MARAK JOINS US LIVE THIS MORNING WITH A BREAKDOWN OF WHAT IT INCLUDES. GOOD MORNING ISABELLE. YEAH. HEY, ERIN, AND GOOD MORNING. THE PROJECTED BUDGET TOTALS MORE THAN $160 MILLION, AND IT’S BROKEN DOWN INTO THREE PARTS HERE. THE FIRST PART IS AN OPERATING BUDGET THAT COVERS PEOPLE, SERVICES, MAINTENANCE, AND DAY TO DAY OPERATIONS. A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN FOR LONG TERM PROJECTS LIKE ROADS AND PARKS, AND WHAT COUNCIL CAN ADJUST. NOW, CITY LEADERS SAY THAT THERE’S NO TAX INCREASE THIS YEAR AND NO CHANGES TO THE CITY’S BUSINESS LICENSE RATES. BUT SOME COSTS ARE RISING THIS YEAR, LIKE PAY FOR PUBLIC SAFETY DUE TO INFLATION, ABOUT $9.5 MILLION IS GOING TOWARDS PARKS, RECREATION AND TOURISM PROJECTS. NOW THAT INCLUDES $1 MILLION FOR THE NEW WHEEL SPORTS PARK THAT’S NEAR THE GREENVILLE DOWNTOWN AIRPORT. SEVERAL SWAMP RABBIT TRAILL PROJECTS WERE ALSO FUNDED, LIKE THE AIRPORT LOOP TRAIL, ZOO TRAIL, HUMANE SOCIETY, RESTROOM, AND VARIOUS TRAIL BRIDGES AS WELL, AND THEY CAN FIND A FULL BREAKDOWN OF THAT BUDGET ON THE CITY’S WEBSITE. IF THIS IS APPROVED TONIGHT, WHICH IS IT IS EXPECTED TO BE, IT WILL GO INTO EFFECT ON JULY 1ST, BUT FOR NOW, REPORTING LIVE IN DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE, ISABELLE MARAK WYFF NEWS FOR. THANK YOU. ISABELLE. THE TOWN OF LAKE LURE NEARLY SET TO REOPEN FOR VISITORS. GOVERNOR JOSH STEIN VISITED THE TOWN FRIDAY TO SEE RECOVERY EFFORTS FOLLOWING HURRICANE HELENE. THE AMOUNT OF WORK THAT THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS DID THAT THE MAYOR AND TOWN COUNCIL DID, AND ALL OF THE LOCAL OFFICIALS AND RESIDENTS TO GET THIS LAKE REOPENED. IT’S WONDERFUL, AND IT’S GOING TO MAKE A HUGE BOOST TO WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. CHIMNEY ROCK JUST UP THE ROAD. THEY ARE GOING TO BE THRILLED BECAUSE THEIR STORES ARE GOING TO GET A LOT MORE CUSTOMERS BECAUSE OF THE FOLKS COMING BACK TO LAKE LURE. PHASE TWO OF THE REOPENING PROCESS WAS SATURDAY. THE WASHBURN MARINA RAMP IS NOW OPEN TO PERMITTED MOTORIZED VESSELS. MOST OF LAKE LURE IS ON TRACK TO FULLY REOPEN BY MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND. THE MARINA IS SET TO BE COMPLETED MID-JUNE. THE TWO YEAR STUDY FOUND HIGH LEVELS OF PFAS AT A POPULAR OUTDOOR MALL IN MYRTLE BEACH. THE MARKET COMMON AREA WAS ONCE AN ACTIVE AIR FORCE BASE. MILITARY BASES HAVE MADE HEADLINES OVER THE YEARS BECAUSE CHEMICALS ON THE SITES HAVE SEEPED INTO THE GROUND. THE BASE THAT ONCE STOOD IN MYRTLE BEACH CLOSED BACK IN 1993, AND DECADES LATER, RESEARCHERS SUSPECT CONTAMINATION MAY HAVE BEEN ENTERING THE GROUND IN THE WATER FOR YEARS. IT COMES AFTER A COASTAL CAROLINA UNIVERSITY STUDY THAT FOUND ELEVATED LEVELS OF PFAS, OR FOREVER, CHEMICALS, IN THE WATER. EACH YEAR, THE CITY TESTS OCEAN WATER FOR BACTERIA AND OTHER INDICATORS, AND THE PROFESSOR WHO HELPED LEAD THE STUDY SAYS THE FINDINGS ARE CAUSE FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION. EXTREMELY HIGH NUMBERS THE HIGHEST NUMBERS WE MEASURE, MEASURED IN OUR PD WATERSHED HERE, COMBINED WITH ALL THE TOURS AND VISITORS PLAYING DOWN THERE, FISHING, KITE SURFING AND SO ON. AND THEREFORE IMMEDIATE ACTIONS REALLY NEEDED. MYRTLE BEACH ISN’T ALONE EITHER. IN FACT, SIMILAR FINDINGS HAVE BEEN REPORTED IN COMMUNITIES NEAR CURRENT AND FORMER MILITARY INSTALLATIONS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. 6.49 AND TROPICAL SMOOTHIE CAFE IS EXPANDING IN THE UPSTATE, WITH A NEW LOCATION OPENING IN THE VERDAE AREA OF GREENVILLE TODAY. STAFF SAY IT WILL BE OPEN SEVEN DAYS A WEEK, SERVING UP SMOOTHIES, WRAPS AND BOWLS, AND THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER LOCATIONS ACROSS THE UPSTATE. MANY STUDENTS AND TEACHERS ARE ENJOYING THEIR LAST FEW DAYS OF SCHOOL THIS WEEK AND THIS WEEKEND WE’RE SAYING THANK YOU AND CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2025 2026 GOLDEN APPLE AWARD WINNERS. JOIN ME THIS SATURDAY AT 8:00 FOR GOLDEN APPLE AWARD, SALUTING OUR TEACHERS. WE VISIT OUR 30 WEEKLY WINNERS FOR GOLDEN APPLE, AND WE’LL NAME OUR TOP FIVE FINALISTS, PLUS TEACHER OF THE YEAR. AND ANOTHER GORGEOUS TERRITORY DAY OVER LAKE HARTWELL. LOOK AT THAT SUNRISE OUT THERE. A COUPLE BOATS OUT ON THE WATER FISHING THIS EARLY MORNING. TEMPERATURE WISE, IT’S REALLY NOT BAD. WE’RE STARTING OFF IN THE 60S FOR MOST OF US. WE’RE NEAR 70 DEGREES THIS MORNING IN GREENVILLE, 63 RIGHT NOW OVER LAKE HARTWELL IN ANDERSON. SO AS WE GO OVER THE NEXT COUPLE HOURS INTO THE AFTERNOON, FEEL SUMMERLIKE OUTSIDE HITTING NEAR 90 DEGREES FOR MOST OF US, ESPECIALLY IN THE UPSTATE, THAT BREEZE COMES IN FROM THE SOUTH. WE’LL SEE SUNSHINE AND TEMPERATURES IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S IN WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA. RINSE AND REPEAT ALL THE WAY THROUGH MIDDAY WEDNESDAY AND THEN THROUGH THE EARLY EVENING HOURS. WE START TO SEE A FEW STORMS DEVELOP, THIS SETTING IN TOWARDS ABOUT 4 TO 5:00. SPOTTY SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS DEVELOP FOR MAINLY WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA ON WEDNESDAY. THEN WE WATCH THAT COLD FRONT BEGIN TO MOVE IN, HEADING IN TOWARDS THURSDAY. HAD THE COLD FRONT THURSDAY. TEMPERATURES WILL BE IN THE MID TO UPPER 80S, SO WE COULD SEE A FEW STRONG THUNDERSTORMS THURSDAY AFTERNOON AND EVENING. AND THEN WE DO KEEP RAIN CHANCES IN THE FORECAST FOR MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND, FRIDAY, SATURDAY AND SUNDAY. THERE WILL BE TIMES YOU NEED THE UMBRELLA. I WOULDN’T CANCEL ANY OUTDOOR PLANS, BUT THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING TO KEEP IN MIND. SO WE’LL TAKE ONE MORE LOOK AT THE FOUR-DAY PLUS HERE IN A COUPLE MINUTES. LEAH. HEY, VICTORIA. A GOOD MONDAY MORNING TO YOU IF YOU’RE HEADING OUT THE DOOR ANYTIME SOON, YOU REALLY SHOULD BE IN GOOD HANDS. I-85 STARTING TO SEE SOME TYPICAL CONGESTION AS WE HEAD INTO OUR 7:00 HOUR. BUT AS █YOU CAN SEE RIGHT HERE, I-85 HIGHWAY 153 IN ANDERSON COUNTY, THINGS ARE LOOKING REALLY GOOD AND SMOOTH. NORTHBOUND AND SOUTHBOUND LANES MOVING NICELY AND BEAUTIFUL. ANDERSON COUNTY ALSO LOOKING GOOD NOW HEADING INTO GREENVILLE, SPARTANBURG COUNTY, WE ARE SEEING A LITTLE BIT OF A SWITCH UP HERE. DEFINITELY A LITTLE SLOWER. AS YOU HEAD OUT THE DOOR, YOU’RE SEEING THAT COLOR LIGHT UP THERE. D.O.T. IS FLAGGING SPECIFICALLY A TWO MILE STRETCH ALONG I-85 SOUTHBOUND LANES BETWEEN HIGHWAY 290 AND HIGHWAY 101. DEFINITELY SOME CONGESTION THERE. I’M SEEING SOME CONGESTION AS YOU HEAD INTO AND OUT OF GREENVILLE. AS YOU CAN SEE THERE ON YOUR MAP, I-85, DEFINITELY SOME SLOWDOWNS, ESPECIALLY AROUND THAT PELHAM ROAD AREA. BUT THAT’S AGAIN TO BE EXPECTED AROUND THIS TIME. THE AREAS LOOKING PRETTY GOOD. SO IF YOU’RE HEADING OUT THE DOOR, YOU’RE IN GOOD HANDS. 85 SOUTHBOUND A LITTLE SLOWER THAN WE LIKE IT, BUT 26 AND 35 REALLY LOOKING GOOD. WE’LL HAVE ONE LAST CHECK ON THAT COMMUTE HERE IN JUST A COUPLE MINUTES. AARON. ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. REMEMBERING LOVED ONES WITH BUTTERFLIES AND DOVES. THE HOSPICE OF UPSTATE HELD ITS 18TH ANNUAL RELEASE OF THE ANIMALS THIS WEEKEND WITH THE THEME HOPE AND TRANSFORMATION. HUNDREDS OF PEOPLE GOT TOGETHER IN THE MEDITATION GARDENS, AND MORE THAN 400 BUTTERFLIES AND DOVES WERE RELEASED AS PART OF THE EVENT, ORGANIZERS SAY. THE RELEASE REMINDS FAMILIES LIFE’S CHALLENGES AND CAN LEAD TO BEAUTY AND TO HEALING. WHAT STARTED WITH ONE LITTLE BOY GIVING UP BIRTHDAY GIFTS TURNED INTO A 12 YEAR MISSION TO HELP SHELTER ANIMALS. YESTERDAY MARKED THE FINAL BRAXTON’S CAR SHOW FOR A CAUSE, RAISING DONATIONS FOR PAWS ANIMAL SHELTER IN ANDERSON COUNTY. HIS MOTHER SAYS WHEN BRAXTON WAS NINE YEARS OLD, HE ASKED FOR ANIMAL SHELTER DONATIONS

The city of Greenville is advancing its $100 million 2027 budget. On Monday, city council gave first and second readings to the proposal, passing it unanimously.”I just want to point out the 2040 — it’s our north star. We’re always talking about it as our north star,” said Councilwoman Tina Belge.Greenville City Council is moving forward with its 2027 budget, following the goals outlined in the Greenville 2040 plan.In the budget, several appropriations, including money for affordable housing. It includes $750,000 for affordable housing and homeless support, $2.5 million for an affordable housing plan, and a new appropriation of $500,000 toward the city’s affordable housing plan initiatives. “We’ve hit our five-year, 1,000 units goal right in our 2040 plan. But because Greenville 2040 doesn’t specify AMI (Area Median Income) levels, we’re on track for that unit count, but not necessarily the plan’s emphasis on risk of displacement and those kinds of affordability, so reaching that depth usually takes about $8 million a year in local housing investment. In this budget, we’re about $5.5 million. So we’re making huge progress, that’s gone up every single year,” Belge said. Recreation is also a big part of this next budget, with the city’s local accommodations tax fund totaling nearly $6 million — $1 million of that is going to a Greenville sheelsports park, and $500,000 to a Swamp Rabbit Zoo Trail. The hospitality tax fund totals $3.3 million with recurring money for greenway trails, public safety cameras and infrastructure, and swamp rabbit trail bridges. “We’re doing so much around the plan, our land use decisions, our planning work, in particular our implementation. They get stronger every day thanks to our city manager and our staff,” Belge said. You read more on the budget here.Keep up with what’s happening around our area by downloading the WYFF News 4 app on the App Store or Google Play.

GREENVILLE, S.C. —

The city of Greenville is advancing its $100 million 2027 budget. On Monday, city council gave first and second readings to the proposal, passing it unanimously.

“I just want to point out the 2040 — it’s our north star. We’re always talking about it as our north star,” said Councilwoman Tina Belge.

Greenville City Council is moving forward with its 2027 budget, following the goals outlined in the Greenville 2040 plan.

In the budget, several appropriations, including money for affordable housing. It includes $750,000 for affordable housing and homeless support, $2.5 million for an affordable housing plan, and a new appropriation of $500,000 toward the city’s affordable housing plan initiatives.

“We’ve hit our five-year, 1,000 units goal right in our 2040 plan. But because Greenville 2040 doesn’t specify AMI (Area Median Income) levels, we’re on track for that unit count, but not necessarily the plan’s emphasis on risk of displacement and those kinds of affordability, so reaching that depth usually takes about $8 million a year in local housing investment. In this budget, we’re about $5.5 million. So we’re making huge progress, that’s gone up every single year,” Belge said.

Recreation is also a big part of this next budget, with the city’s local accommodations tax fund totaling nearly $6 million — $1 million of that is going to a Greenville sheelsports park, and $500,000 to a Swamp Rabbit Zoo Trail. The hospitality tax fund totals $3.3 million with recurring money for greenway trails, public safety cameras and infrastructure, and swamp rabbit trail bridges.

“We’re doing so much around the plan, our land use decisions, our planning work, in particular our implementation. They get stronger every day thanks to our city manager and our staff,” Belge said.

You read more on the budget here.

Keep up with what’s happening around our area by downloading the WYFF News 4 app on the App Store or Google Play.