Berkeley County adopts $54.4 million FY2025-26 budget; levy rate unchanged
Get AI-powered insights, summaries, and transcripts
Sign Up Free
Summary
The Berkeley County Commission approved a balanced $54,396,403 fiscal 2025-26 budget with the property tax levy held at 13.39 mills and funding for new firefighters, employee pay raises and sheriff office needs.
The Berkeley County Commission on March 20 adopted a balanced fiscal year 2025-26 budget of $54,396,403 and left the county property tax levy unchanged at 13.39 mills.
Commissioners said the budget, which the county presented after earlier discussion, funds internal department requests and keeps the tax rate at the current level.
The adopted budget funds several operational priorities cited by county staff: adding one police social worker to the sheriff's office, replacing aging ballistic vests for deputies, funding 12 professional firefighters in partnership with the Berkeley County Fire Service Board, and implementing a 5% pay increase for all full-time employees (capped at $4,000). County staff said these items were included while maintaining a balanced budget and without raising the levy.
County Administrator Gary Wynn told the commission the adopted budget reflects revenue and expenditure trends used to prepare the plan. Commissioners noted the budget preserves funding for constitutional officers’ requests with exceptions noted by staff and continues the county’s ongoing vehicle-fleet replacement efforts.
The commission voted to approve the budget at the meeting. There was no change to the levy rate, which the commission reiterated is remaining at 13.39 mills for FY2025-26.
Looking ahead, staff said the county will implement the approved changes during the coming fiscal year and continue monitoring revenue and expenditure trends.