NORTH MYRTLE BEACH, SC (WBTW) – Taxes will go up in North Myrtle Beach if its budget passes one more reading. City council approved the first reading on Monday night.

A city document said the city needs more money for projects like public parking, higher contributions to the state retirement system, and salary increases for police and firefighters, among other things.

The proposed budget would increase taxes by 2 mills. Someone with a $350,000 home would pay $28 more per year in property taxes.

Sanitation fees for single-family residential customers would jump from $19 per month to $22 per month. The city attributed $2 of the increase to higher costs from the Horry County Solid Waste Authority. The other $1 would pay to replace decade-old rollout garbage containers.

The budget also calls for higher sewer fees. The total increase would be about $2.38 for the first 10,000 gallons.

Business license rates would also increase by 25% of the difference between tax rates of North Myrtle Beach and Myrtle Beach. Business taxes in North Myrtle Beach are lower than the rates in North Myrtle Beach. The city expects the change to generate approximately $700,000.  

The next city council meeting is expected on May 7.