Hilton Head Island
Sign up for email or text alerts, news and updates.
Learn about our free e-subscription service
Subscribe Today!
Already have an account? Review your preferences
Learn about our agenda notification service
Sign Up for Agenda Notifications
July 2024
Welcome to our new year — our new fiscal year, that is!
As of July 1, the Town of Hilton Head Island's annual budget cycle has begun. I am proud to announce that we approved the town's $166.9 million consolidated budget for fiscal year (FY) 2025, once again without increasing property taxes. Our community thrives because we adopt budgets that support our policies and programs, ensuring we continue delivering high quality public services to our residents, businesses, workforce, and visitors.
The FY 2025 budget, effective through June 30, 2025, maintains Hilton Head Island's millage rate at a low 21.4 mills. This budget advances the town council's priorities, including beach renourishment, growth management, workforce housing, traffic and transportation solutions, infrastructure enhancements, economic development, resiliency, recreation, and public safety. The budget is composed of six funds. For those interested in a deeper dive into the numbers and budget priorities beyond the snapshot I provide in this column, I encourage you to visit the town's website at hiltonheadislandsc.gov/budget/FY2025/ for detailed information, presentations, and video overviews by Town Manager Marc Orlando.
Here are the quick highlights from our six funds:
General Fund: $60.9 million
This fund covers the Town's basic operations, public safety, and affiliated agency funding. Some of the key allocations include:
Capital Projects Fund: $74.4 million
This fund focuses on highly visible projects for our pathways, roadways, beaches, parks, facility and equipment, feet, land acquisition and stormwater. A few examples of budgeted items are:
Stormwater Utility Fund: $7.5 million
This fund supports resiliency planning and routine and corrective maintenance of stormwater infrastructure, protecting the island from flooding, safeguarding watersheds, and sustaining water quality.
Housing Fund: $4 million
This fund supports initiatives such as:
Debt Service Fund: $16.7 million
Key elements include:
Gullah Geechee Historic Neighborhoods Community Development Corporation Fund: $3.4 million
This fund continues supporting the organization's operations and community investment, focusing on economic opportunity and quality of life improvements for historic neighborhoods. It includes loans for small business development, neighborhood and community development, and capital outlay for land/easement acquisitions and public infrastructure.