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Council adopts Greenville County Library budget as presented after failed efforts to restore original staffing wages
Summary
Greenville County Council approved third reading of the library appropriation for FY2026 after councilors rejected motions to suspend rules and restore a previously proposed staffing budget. Supporters urged reinstating the original budget to increase wages; councilors said the adopted ordinance includes built-in wage assessments.
Greenville County Council adopted the library appropriation ordinance on third reading May 20 after several motions to suspend the rules and amend the third-reading ordinance failed.
What happened: Councilor Collins moved the ordinance for third reading to appropriate funds for the Greenville County Library System for fiscal year 2026 and to set the library millage. Councilor Seaman and others attempted to suspend the rules to allow amendments that would have restored the library’s original proposed staffing and wage budget; those motions failed on roll calls. A subsequent voice vote approved the ordinance as presented.
Why it matters: Public speakers and library advocates urged councilors to reinstate funding the library board initially expected and said the system’s high usage and low pay for many staff justify a larger operating budget. Corinne Shuford, representing patrons and library users, told the council the Greenville County Library System served nearly 200,000 patrons and loaned millions of items, and she urged the council to “reinstate the original budget.” Matthew Miller, who reviewed county-provided salary data, said many full-time library employees earn under $20 per hour and many part-time staff work substantial hours at low wages. “Turnover rates at the library have been increasing, partially because of the wage situation,” Miller said.
Council discussion and clarifications: Councilors debated whether the adopted budget provided adequate pay increases. Councilor Seaman said she had discussed the issue with library leadership and that the adopted ordinance includes a 3% raise in the current year and a second built-in wage assessment in the following year, which she said would produce larger increases for some employees over two years. Councilor Fant said library staff deserve a living wage and spoke in favor of higher pay; others said they supported libraries but could not secure enough votes to change the ordinance during third reading.
Millage and taxpayer impact: A county official said the library planned to reduce its millage by half a mill; that reduction would lower the library portion of property taxes, with the official noting 1 mill equates to roughly $4 on a $100,000 home. Councilors and community advocates said they would continue conversations about library staffing and pay in coming budget discussions.
Ending: The ordinance advanced as presented; amendments to restore the original proposed library staffing budget failed. Supporters of higher library pay said they would continue to press the council as the FY2026 budget process continues.
