North Charleston adopts 2025–26 budget ordinance after staff review of tax, interest and special-project figures

The North Charleston City Council approved an ordinance adopting the city budget for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, following staff presentation and questions from council members.

City staff summarized revisions to revenue and expense lines, including an estimated $70,800,000 property tax forecast and a reported $1,700,000 year‑to‑date surplus in interest earnings that staff said would help offset deficits. Staff said they had placed an estimate for anticipated May tax adjustments in the report because final tax statements were not yet available.

The staff presentation noted several budget changes: a $5,000,000 transfer out of a special‑projects account into operating categories that will later be allocated to public works divisions, and a $9,400,000 appropriation from fund balance for one‑time expenditures. Staff highlighted that property tax receipts are pooled into a single account and reallocated after tax statements arrive in May.

Council members asked for clarification on several totals recorded in the budget book. Staff referred to multiple figures that were discussed during the meeting — including a series of grant and donation totals variously stated by speakers as roughly $24,000,000, $32,000,000 and $34,000,000 — and confirmed that the real property total shown in the ledger was $64,376,843. Council members pressed staff to reconcile inconsistencies and to identify which figures were estimates versus final entries.

After discussion, the council called the question. The ordinance was moved and seconded and carried on a voice vote with those present saying “aye.”

The approved ordinance sets the operating and capital spending plan for the coming fiscal year; staff indicated additional line‑item reallocations will follow final tax statements in May and as the council considers proposed amendments.