North Charleston gave $2.5M to each district for infrastructure projects. How was it spent? (2024)

NORTH CHARLESTON — Nearly three years ago, the city targeted $25 million for sidewalk improvements and capital projects that was divided evenly among the 10 council members who were tasked with initiated project plans. Today, most of the funds still haven't been spent.

Each council district has available funds for future projects, ranging from $522,000 to $2.4 million, according to data provided by the city’s finance department. Of the $25 million budgeted, nearly $16 million is left.

When half of the council turned over at the start of 2024, the five new members acquired the leftover funds in their districts.

Brandon Hudson, the recently elected District 8 councilman who represents Park Circle and Liberty Hill, said the data shows he still has $1.5 million to spend on projects.

According to Hudson, those funds already are allocated to a sidewalk and drainage project that the district's former councilman Bob King started during his term. The project has been put out for a bid, but since the bid hasn’t been accepted, the data shows money is still available in District 8.

Hudson said he supports King’s vision for the district.

“I want to see those projects through because I think that they're really great for the community,” Hudson said.

However, its unclear if the other four new council members who inherited funds also are taking on projects that were already in the works by their predecessors.

Sandino Moses, Charmaine Palmer-Roberts and Michael Brown Jr., all recently elected, did not respond to requests for comment. Nefertiti Brown, another council member elected in fall 2023, declined to comment until pending projects are completed.

Funds available in each district according to city data

• District 1 Mike Brown: $1.92 million
• District 2 Rhonda Jerome: $1.32 million
• District 3 Sandino Moses: $1.77 million
• District 4 Charmaine Palmer-Roberts: $850,600
• District 5: Jerome Heyward: $2.14 million
• District 6 Nefertiti Brown: $2.48 million
• District 7 Michael Brown, Jr.: $1.89 million
• District 8 Brandon Hudson: $1.52 million
• District 9 Kenny Skipper: $1.49 million
• District 10 Michael Brown: $522,000

Councilmembers Rhonda Jerome and Jerome Heyward, who were both reelected to their districts in fall 2023, also did not respond to requests for comment about remaining funds.

The council members are in charge of determining what projects this money funds, which can include purchasing property, revitalizing community centers or infrastructure projects. Once a project is identified, the finance department approves it and, if necessary, the public works or legal departments weigh in on the decision.

Due to the redistricting map that was first at play in the November 2023 election, boundaries of the districts are different than they were in 2021, when the money was first distributed.Most notably, District 7 is a new district. The district was moved from the south end of the city to Ladson to account for the growth in the northern part of the city.

City officials told The Post and Courier the funds remain under the purview of each district's current boundaries regardless of changes that came with redistricting.

Funds spent so far

The initial focus of the $25 million— issued by former Mayor Keith Summey with proceeds from refinancing city bonds— was to improve sidewalks throughout the city. Many of North Charleston’s older neighborhoods were built long before the city started requiring that new developments include sidewalks. Depending on the district, sidewalk improvements and installations might not be needed.

Council members were expected to meet with neighborhood groups to identify the best way to use the money, said former councilman Ron Brinson, who now serves as the city's finance assistant.

At the time, council members also discussed the need for drainage improvements and crosswalks.

Michael Brown of District 10 has spent the most of the $2.5 million that he was allocated. He said most of the funds went toward sidewalk and drainage projects in his district in the south end of the city. He plans to use the remaining $522,000 for a community center, playground improvements and to install speed bumps in certain neighborhoods.

Mike Brown of District 1 used some of the funds to repave roads and add speed humps, in addition to a playground revamp. He still has nearly $2 million left to spend. He saidhe is hoping to use that money to buy land for a community center since his district does not have one.

District 9 Councilman Kenny Skipper and Brinson, the former District 4 councilman, combined efforts to buy property near the aquatic center on Patriot Boulevard to fund a soccer sports complex that will include walking trails. Skipper plans to spend the remaining $1.5 million on the development of the soccer complex.

He also used funds to improve the intersection of Netherby Lane and Club Course Drive.

More sidewalk improvements could be in the works for the city through Charleston County's third half-cent transportation sales tax. All of the approved projects in North Charleston involve installingbike and pedestrian pathsand includenew sidewalks along the Rivers Avenue corridor near the planned Lowcountry Rapid Transit route, a standalone bridge alongside the North Bridge to connect bike/pedestrian paths, and a multiuse path along Mall Drive.

The county is proposing to extend the tax that funds infrastructure projects on the Nov. 5 ballot.