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BUDGET AT A GLANCE

W W W . K I A W A H I S L A N D . O R G T O W N O F K I A W A H I S L A N D I N C O R P O R A T E D I N 1 9 8 8

W H O A R E W E ABOUT US

Jack Kotz

Town Mission Elected Officials Craig Weaver, Mayor To protect and preserve the Chris Widuch, Mayor Pro Tem/Council residential character of the Maryanne Connelly, Council Member community and the Island’s Dan Prickett , Council Member unique natural environment Klaus Said, Council Member while supporting the economic Other Officials vitality of the resort and other Stephanie Tillerson, Town Administrator commercial enterprise. Dorota Szubert, Town Treasurer

Statistics

Single-family $1.2 M Average Home Price 2019 3657 $825K Average Lot Sales Price Households 40%

30% Population Age Range 20%

2065 Registered Voters 10% (full-time residents) 0% < 39 40-59 60-69 70-79 80+ KIAWAH ISLAND HOME OF

Ten miles of wide, pristine, unspoiled, oceanfront beach

Five Star, Five Diamond Sanctuary Hotel at the Kiawah Island Golf Resort

The Ocean Course host of the 1991 , 1997, 2003 World Cups, 2001 UBS Warburg Cup, 2007 Senior PGA Championship, 2012 PGA Championship and site of the 2021 PGA Championship

Jim Jordan

Bob Hill One of the few select areas in the The longest-running bobcat A vital nesting ground for world where dolphins strand feed. GPS Study in the world. loggerhead turtles with over Kiawah’s historically healthy 300 turtle nests on average bobcat population has been per year and one of the sharply declining. More at largest volunteer turtle www.savekiawahbobcats.com patrol programs in the U.S.

Bob Hill Approximately 700 white-tailed deer

A healthy population of Painted Buntings, A critical staging area for A healthy population of one of the most Red Knots during spring American alligators which can beautiful songbirds migration as they be seen in all of the 150 in North America. undertake an incredible brackish and freshwater ponds Kiawah’s coastal journey from South interspersed throughout the maritime forest America to the Arctic island. Never feed, harass, or provides critical traveling over 9,000 miles. approach alligators. breeding habitat for these birds. TOWN SERVICES

T O W N C O U N C I L & C O M M I T T E E S Establishment of Town policies

M U N I C I P A L C O U R T

Jurisdiction to try all cases arising due to the violation of Town ordinances and has powers and authority in criminal cases made under state law and conferred upon magistrates.

P U B L I C S A F E T Y

Island-wide law enforcement provided by Charleston County Sheriffs Office, Beach Patrol, Code Enforcement, Emergency Response, Disaster Planning and Recovery.

P U B L I C W O R K S

Island beautification and maintenance of Beachwalker Drive, Kiawah Island Parkway from the roundabout at Betsy Kerrison Parkway to the E N V I R O N M E N T A L front gate and the Municipal Center. Beach management, wildlife population S O L I D W A S T E D I S P O S A L monitoring and research, habitat management, nuisance/injured wildlife response, Turtle Island-wide garbage, recycling, yard debris, Patrol education and outreach efforts. brown trash and household hazardous waste collection and disposal. C O M M U N I C A T I O N S

P L A N N I N G A N D Z O N I N G Public information in normal and emergency operations is provided through various Zoning permits, subdivision of land, re-zonings, mediums, including the Town website, planned developments, variance requests, quarterly newsletter (Town Notes), bi-weekly special exception requests, site plan review, e-blasts, social media, and specialty zoning & land development regulations, and publications. appeals of administrative decisions. T O U R I S M P R O M O T I O N B U I L D I N G S E R V I C E S & B U S I N E S S L I C E N S E S Allocation of tourism funds, collaboration with island entities to promote tourism Responsible for accountable business practices activities, and hosts a Charleston Visitors through licensing and building permit and Bureau office. inspection process for all commercial and residential projects within the Town. It has an C O M M U N I T Y O U T R E A C H express goal of maintaining a safe building Charitable Contributions, Arts & Cultural environment for our residents through quality Events. plan review and inspections. Total Revenue Summary 45% 40% $7.8 Million Restricted and Unrestricted Funds

Where the revenue Accommodation & Charges for Services Hospitality Taxes comes Business Licenses Building Permits Solid Waste Fees from 11% 4%

Other Franchise Fees Court Fines Investments Income Misc.

Property Tax (No Town of 0% Kiawah Island Property Tax)

Property taxes paid to Charleston County do not include any taxes for the Town.

More at www.kiawahisland.org/transparency Total Revenues Budgeted Total $7.8 Million

Other Restricted Fund 2% Local ATAX $80K Revenues (34%) 10% $735K Total $2.6 M

State ATAX Restricted 16% $1.3M Unrestricted Hospitality Tax General Fund 6% 66% $411K $5.2M

Unrestricted General Fund Revenues (66%) Other Total $5.2 M 6% Solid Waste $307K 12%

$600K Business License Local Option Tax 44% $2.3 M $472K 9%

$856K

Franchise Fees $665K 16%

Building Permit

More at www.kiawahisland.org/transparency 13% Revenue Sources Detailed $0 Property Tax - Property Taxes paid to Charleston County do not include any taxes from the Town

Unrestricted Funds Restricted Funds Sources not required to be used for Sources that can only be used for specific purposes. Listed below: specific purposes. Listed below:

State Accommodation Business Licenses Tax (SATAX)

Fees charged to businesses to be able to A tax tourists pay from the rental charges for operate within the limits of the Town. accommodations when staying on the island. Revenues from this tax must be spent on Building Permits tourism-related expenditures except for the first $25K plus 5% of the remaining total revenues which are allocated to the Town’s general fund Fees charged to contractors for all construction and not restricted. The allocation of SATAX funds Jack Kotz projects, whether done by a licensed contractor is recommended by the Town's SATAX or property owner. Committee and approved by Town Council. The major areas where the money is allocated Solid Waste Collection include enhanced police protection, Beach Patrol, and community events.

Fees for collection and disposal of residential Local Accommodation Fund garbage, recycling, and yard debris. SC state law allows the Town to levy 1% Franchise Fees municipal local accommodation tax. These fees are remitted to the Town by Charleston County monthly. Revenues must be spent exclusively Fees for the rights of specific companies to for things such as tourism, cultural events, and provide services within the Town, such as beach access roads providing access to tourist electricity, cable, and beach chair rentals. destinations. Local Option Tax County Accommodation

A uniform 1% tax on the taxable sale. The Charleston County levies 2% accommodation state collects this tax and distributes a tax of which a portion is distributed to percent to municipalities in the county. municipalities where they were earned. The Town receives approximately 25% of the fees Other collected, contingent on the use of the money - Beverage Tax: The state levies this on capital projects or services that promote tax for alcohol beverage permits sold to tourism. businesses, of which a portion is distributed to the municipality. Hospitality Tax

- Fines and Forfeitures: The Town keeps a small percentage of fees A tax paid by patrons of restaurants, grocery collected through Municipal Court for stores and any other establishments that sell tickets issued within the Town limits. and prepare food and beverages. The 1% tax is The majority of these fees go to the remitted to the Town by these businesses state. monthly.

- Aid to Subdivision: State aid to local $0 Property Tax - Property taxes governments from several tax sources paid to Charleston County do not annually. include any taxes for the Town. Total Expenditures Summary

Administration & $7.8 Million 26% Community Restricted and Development Services Unrestricted Funds

How the Public Works/ 20% Infrastructure/ budget Municipal Center dollars are distributed

14% Public Safety

13% Solid Waste

11% Tourism

Wildlife 6% $600K Research

5% Beach Management

3% Arts Council $665K

2% Charities More at www.kiawahisland.org/transparency 2020 - 2021 Expenditures Unrestricted - General Fund The general fund or unrestricted fund is the Town’s $7.8 million Below is how general & restricted funds are primary operating fund. This fund comes from revenue budgeted to be spent. from business license, permit fees, franchise fees, etc. 1,500,000 funds that come from State, $1.4 M Restricted Local and County Accommodation Tax, and Local Hospitality Tax. These funds must be used for promotion of tourism, tourism activities and/or tourism related expenses.

$1 M 1,000,000 $872K $877K $800K

$700K $949K $683K $37K

$687K $680K 500,000 $443K $371K

$299K $663K $244K

$150K $188K $185K $144K $120K 0 $55K t l t n s n a n te r il s rk t s m e c ts ie s io e n e s t n n it e g t o m e m a ri n e r c a e u v a i in tr W e m e W u o E v n s c rc n g o C C l h r o i li a id T l a C e Z in fo ro n l a s r S b n i a o p rt tu . & m u v S ci l g g d P E n M i A u d in A w E h n C l n a c u & B n L a M la e P B & Expenditures Detailed

13% Solid Waste 11% Public Works

The Town provides various collection Maintaining Beachwalker Drive, Kiawah Island types for its residents and continues to Parkway from the roundabout at Betsy provide curbside service free of charge. Kerrison Parkway to the front gate and the Expenditures also include garbage Municipal Center. Includes repaving and collection on the beach, Kestrel Court landscape design services for the KI Parkway. Trash and Recycling Center, and the Beachwalker Drive site. 10% Law Enforcement

11% Tourism Dedicated law enforcement services contracted with the Charleston County Sheriff’s Office that entails enhanced coverage and four Distribution of State Accommodation permanently assigned deputies for Kiawah. Tax funds back into the community for the advertising and promotion of tourism-related activities and expenditures. 2% Charitable Contributions Funds for this fiscal year were allocated to: Freshfields Village events The Town supports a variety of charitable marketing/advertising organizations through its Charitable Kiawah Island Golf Resort events Contribution Fund. The Town allocates up to 30% promotion in the general fund each year, not to 2021 PGA Championship exceed $150,000. Beach Patrol coverage Charleston County Sheriff's Deputy coverage (a portion of) 3 % Arts and Cultural Charleston Visitors Bureau

The Town strives to enhance the community and provide residents and visitors accessibility of performing arts events within the Town. The 2019-2020 annual report is available at www.kiawahisland.org/events 5% Beach Management

Beach Monitoring Annual beach sand volume survey, report, and recommendations (Coastal Science and Engineering). Mitigation for previous beach restoration projects.

Beach Patrol Contracted with Barrier Island Ocean Rescue for the provision of ocean rescue, life safety, first aid services, and code enforcement on the beach.

6% Environmental

Bobcat GPS Research Project Analyzes the habitat needs of bobcats and assists in management and conservation. Longest, continuous GPS study on bobcats in the world.

Bird Banding Projects Studies on productivity, survivorship, and movements of many bird species that are indicators of the health of the island’s ecosystem.

Alligator Behavior and Safety Studies Studies to understand the behavior and movements of alligators to increase awareness and safety across the island. Cooperative projects with KICA, Clemson University, SCDNR, and the Nemours Wildlife Foundation.

Wildlife Surveys and Monitoring Variety of wildlife surveys to estimate population size and abundance of many wildlife species to look at population trends over time to better understand how our native wildlife species are adapting to changes on Kiawah.

Environmental Programs Funding for educational programs to enhance awareness of Kiawah’s wildlife and reduce negative interactions with wildlife. Programs include the Dolphin Education Project (NOAA NMFS, LMMN), Outdoor Wildlife Lessons in Science (KIGR), Grow Native, Kiawah Conservancy education and outreach programs, Shorebird Stewardship program, and more.