City of Newberry staff presents balanced governmental budget, proposes $300 fire assessment

City staff presented a proposed governmental funds budget for fiscal year 2026 that staff said is balanced at a reduced millage rate of 5.88 mills and includes a staff recommendation to set the annual fire assessment at $300.

The recommendation—delivered by a staff presenter identified in the transcript as Dallas—laid out projected revenues of about $9 million and a general fund expense budget of roughly $13.9 million, driven largely by rising property values, grant activity and contractual increases. Dallas said, "we are coming forward with a balanced budget at a millage rate reduction, 5.88 mills." The presentation noted about $80 million in added taxable property value this year and that the city's gross taxable value is now just under $900 million.

Why it matters: The discussion focused most heavily on the fire assessment and staffing. Staff recommended a $300 annual fire assessment (down from a previously advertised maximum of $419) to address a growing shortfall and to fund two additional firefighter staffing positions per shift the chief requested to reduce overtime and provide succession depth. Dallas said the budget includes the $300 recommendation and that the advertised $419 represented a legal maximum, not the staff recommendation.

Budget highlights and context: The presentation covered general fund, special revenue and capital project funds. Key points included: - Property tax (ad valorem) revenue for FY 2026 is budgeted at $4.9 million, up from $4.6 million, primarily from growth in taxable values. Dallas said grant revenues…