Belton Paving the Way for Progress this Summer

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Belton is finishing out spring as a season of maintenance: the roads are getting attention, the budget is close to finished, and the town’s public life is expanding in a number of ways.

Mayor Eleanor Dorn said South Main Street has been paved by the South Carolina Department of Transportation and that three other roads were paved earlier this year.

Belton’s budget for the year ahead is “very lean,” but also stable, said Dorn, who added that department heads are keeping requests restrained and a final approval expected within a week or two. The city hopes to preserve employee salary adjustments, even as fuel and other operating costs remain a pressure. She said the town does not expect tax increases, though she would not rule out any change until the numbers are final.

She said running a small-town budget looks a lot like running a household, only with more bills and less flexibility. Belton buys water, pays utility costs, and absorbs the same kind of inflation that households do, but without much room for “special projects” unless state money arrives via directed spending or grants. She argued that larger cities can absorb cuts more easily, while small municipalities feel them immediately.

The town’s partnership with the Anderson County Sheriff’s Department continues working smoothly, giving Belton something close to luxury in local-government terms: backup. In summer, when vacations thin out small police staff, county support has made coverage easier and emergencies less precarious.

On the recreation side, the Leda Poore Park project’s building is finished, and grants are now sought for the fields, as the town gets ready for flag football and cheerleading.

Belton is also still building working on recreational infrastructure, from the Bubblegum Trail to a planned spur linking the Abney Field and Terry Martin field area to the recreation center. Dorn added downtown is about to gain an upscale steakhouse, expected to open in a month or two once permits are complete.

Continued momentum at events like the South Carolina Chili Cook-Off, Summer Sounds downtown concerts, and the city’s July 4 celebration set for June 27, with fireworks at 9 p.m. are also in the works in Belton.

July will be a time to celebrate industrial growth. Dorn said Advanced Metal Works is already employing about 100 people and could double that by year’s end, while Eastern Engineer Products is preparing a ribbon cutting for July 30.