Fall Message from the Town Administrator

Dear Island Residents:

I hope you all enjoyed your summer and were able to share some quality time with friends and family. As we enter a new fiscal year for 2025-2026, I would like to provide a brief update on our newly adopted operating and capital budgets, along with several new online applications geared to improving the Town’s financial transparency.

FY2026 Budget
Producing the annual budget involves a collaboration between the Mayor & Council, Town Administrator, and department heads with the goal of identifying the needs of the community, funding priorities and anticipated revenues and expenditures for the coming fiscal year. As with the prior year’s budget, the 2026 budget emphasizes the following priorities: 

• Maintaining Essential Services: These services include public safety, administrative services, facility improvements and more. Within the 2026 budget, Council has allocated resources to ensure a high quality of job performance across all Town departments.
• Infrastructure Maintenance and Improvement: High priorities were placed on maintaining and improving public infrastructure, with a key focus on stormwater management, road repairs, and other critical projects. Additionally, the FY2026 budget will include the Town's first standalone capital budget and first five-year Capital Improvement Plan to provide a concerted and planned approach to budgeting for years to come.
• Parks and Recreation: Preserving recreational opportunities and the natural environment is a top priority of our Town Council in FY2026. Resources are committed for a variety of recreational opportunities, including Stith Park drainage improvements and improving other park spaces to benefit residents' quality of life and well-being.
• Public Engagement & Special Events: Resources have been allocated for a variety of annual community events (holiday events, SC250 initiatives, etc.), safety measures for public gathering spaces, and investment in technology for meeting spaces within Town Hall to ensure resident voices are heard and considered during Town meetings. 

To reflect the Town’s commitment to maintaining fiscal responsibility, transparency and accountability, we are also excited to present the budget in a new digital format now viewable by way of the Town Finances Page. 

This interactive “Financial Transparency Center” provides a fresh look for reviewing all departmental operating budgets, approved capital projects, debt, and more. Please do not hesitate to contact me at Town Hall should you have any questions about Town budget documents or navigating our Financial Transparency Center.

Warmest regards,

Joe Henderson, AICP
Town Administrator
2056 Middle Street | SC 29482
jhenderson@sullivansisland.sc.gov 
Tel 843.883.5731 | Fax 843.883.3009

 Other Information from Town Hall…
Island residents should take the next few weeks to make final preparations for tropical weather by reviewing your family’s emergency evacuation plans, securing resident re-entry tags and ensuring your property is storm ready! Please take the time to search the Town’s Emergency Preparedness page for storm prep tips, local resources and emergency contact information.

Stay informed of all Town activities and information by checking the Town’s homepage and event calendar which is updated regularly. Another excellent way to stay up-to-date on special events, performances, community meetings, etc. is  by registering for the Town’s monthly newsletter, TOSI Talks and various social media outlets.

Please take note of the various capital projects and general information from Town Hall:

Major Stormwater Projects:
Beginning in September, and continuing over the next year and a half, Island residents should expect to see an increase in stormwater utility construction in the Station 28.5 and 31 neighborhoods. Contractors will be focused on making critical drainage improvements in these neighborhoods as part of the SCIIP grant project. For all progress updates, maps and project descriptions please see the Town’s Stormwater project page.

In the coming months, additional stormwater work will begin at the intersection of Osceola Avenue and Station 9 ½ and the Town’s stormwater cleaning contractor will be ever-present cleaning clogged drains, pipes and ditches in advance of the storm season. 

Stith Park Drainage Improvements and Renovations:
Town Council has also initiated a park-wide drainage study that will address existing and future drainage needs for any subsequent phases of the park’s development. Thomas & Hutton Engineering will be presenting a final draft of this plan in the coming months.  

Town Hall Porch Renovations:
Be advised access to Town Hall may be rerouted to side entrances due to construction activity. Porche construction should be completed in late August.

Town Parking Lot Renovations:
Parking lot improvements are underway for Battery Thompson and the Town Hall overflow parking area. Both parking areas should be reopened by mid-September.

General information:
Dog Permits and Rules
Please remember to renew your dog permit for 2025. Contact Riley in Town Hall at 843-883-5743 or by email at rdippert@sullivansisland.sc.gov for information.

Effective October 01 the beach hours for dogs will change as follows:

• 5am to 12pm – dogs may be on the beach and off leash but under voice command
• 12pm to 5am – dogs are permitted on the beach and must be leashed

At all times, dogs must have an up-to-date Town dog permit and badge on hand; owners are responsible for cleaning up dog waste. Please remember to always dispose of dog waste bags and do not leave them on the ground. Littering fines apply, even if left behind temporarily. 

Town Council Meetings
We encourage Town residents and other members of the public to attend Town Council workshops and regular Council meetings to stay informed of all Town issues, projects and programs. Town Council holds its workshop meetings on the first Monday of each month at 6pm and it Council Meetings on the third Tuesday at 6pm. Our next meeting dates are as follows:

Council Workshop

October 5th at 6pm
November 2nd at 6pm

Council meeting

October 20th at 6pm
November 17th at 6pm