Mayor offers Abbeville Rotarians annual ‘State of City’ address

The Abbeville Rotary Club invites Mayor Mark Piazza each year to offer a “State of the City” address.
Piazza, who was recently sworn in as mayor for a fourth term, accepted the annual invitation Wednesday, telling members there are plenty of positives in the city.
“I want to thank the Rotary Club for having me here to share some of the good news that is going on in Abbeville,” Piazza said.
Sales tax revenue is among the good news.
“One of the things that I consider very positive is sales tax,” Piazza said. “Sales tax is a very good indicator of the economic well being.
“I think most of you would agree with that.”
The city’s sales tax revenue has increased each year since 2010, when the city brought in around $3.2 million. That grew to $3.6 million in ‘13.
“That is the highest sales tax year in the history of Abbeville,” Piazza said. “That is, again, a very positive thing for Abbeville to see a healthy economic climate.”
Piazza also highlighted the city’s fund balances.
He explained to the Rotarians that the Utility System Fund has more than doubled, from $384,036.07 in ‘11, to $915,092.90. Coupled with the newly created Utility System Reserve Account, which currently holds $266,829.79, pushes the Utility Fund to well more than $1 million.
“That is largely due to our new electrical contract,” Piazza said.
The mayor described to the club members the contract, one signed with Constellation Energy last year that went into effect Jan. 1, as paramount among moves made by the city in recent years.
“In the first six months,” Piazza said, “there has been a 25 percent reduction in the cost of electricity for the City of Abbeville with our new electrical contract.”
Much of that has been returned to the city’s customers.
“Sixty percent of that was passed on straight to the residents and businesses,” Piazza said. “We kept some for reserves, but everything else was passed on to the consumers.
“It is a great thing and the most significant thing that has happened to Abbeville during my administration.”
Piazza recounted to the Rotarians his feelings when he began his time as mayor.
“When I was first elected as mayor,” Piazza said, “I was determined, and everybody likes to say this, but I really wanted to run the city like a business. I wanted to cut out all of the excessive spending.
“That was one of my goals, and one of the things that I am very proud to say is that we have accomplished that over the last few years.”