Myrtle Beach Residents Divided Over Horry County Council’s Proposed Salary Increase

Myrtle Beach Residents Weigh In on Potential Horry County Council Pay Raise

In an interesting turn of events, Horry County Council is just one vote away from potentially giving themselves a little extra cash come 2025. On Tuesday, the council voted seven to five in favor of boosting their salaries by $5,000. If this proposal passes one last time, it will mark the first pay raise for the council since 1999 – that’s a long wait!

What’s the Deal with the Pay Raise?

So here’s what’s happening: right now, council members make around $15,966 annually, plus they can spend up to $4,000 on expenses related to their position. If the raise goes through, that number would jump to about $20,966 a year. That’s a 31% increase for the members and a 19% raise for the county chair. All this extra cash would total around $77,000 from county funds.

The cash for this pay increase will come from the county’s general fund, which, of course, means it’s sourced from taxpayer dollars. This, as you can imagine, is a bit of a hot topic among locals.

Voices from the Community

Vice Chairman for District Three, Dennis Disabato, shared his thoughts on the subject, saying, “There are a lot of people experiencing very difficult financial times right now. I didn’t feel it was appropriate for us to vote for our own pay increases.” Many locals seem to feel the same way, echoing concerns about the financial strains many are under. For example, Horry County resident Lisa Kirkland said, “Everybody needs money; times are tough. When it comes out of taxpayer dollars, it’s kind of a double-edged sword because we are already paying a lot in taxes.”

The proposal hasn’t sailed through easily. Just last January, the council turned down a proposed 25% raise. What’s more, a recent report showed that members from nearby counties like Charleston, Greenville, and Richland are raking in more cash annually than our local council members.

To Raise or Not to Raise?

Opinions among residents are split. Logan Bass, a resident of Horry County, said that raising salaries is totally justified, remarking, “The fact they haven’t gotten one in 25 years is a little absurd.” Others, however, believe that a 30% raise seems a bit excessive, especially when the average U.S. salary raise is only around 3.6% for 2024.

This whole situation is certainly stirring up some chatter around Myrtle Beach. With folks constantly discussing it, it feels like this might be just the beginning of a larger conversation about council compensation and the ways it impacts the community.

What’s Next?

As it stands, the council needs to vote one more time to officially approve this pay increase. Will it pass? And how will local residents react if it does? Only time will tell! But for now, it’s clear that opinions are as varied as our delicious seafood options down by the shore!

So, Myrtle Beach, where do you stand on this? Are you team pay raise, or do you think the council should hold off? As the discussions continue, make sure your voice is heard!