Richland County Council advances second-reading budget with tax-impact choices left for third reading

Richland County Council on June 5 reviewed second-reading ordinances to set ad valorem property taxes for fiscal year 2025–26 and took votes on a range of agency funding requests, while leaving several larger policy choices for third reading.

The council heard staff numbers showing different combinations of millage actions would change household tax bills by relatively small amounts, but could add up countywide. “On a hundred thousand dollar home that’s a residence, that would be $2” for a half‑mill increase, County staff member Mr. Otter said when explaining impacts. Auditor Brawley said if all millage agencies were funded as requested — and including an administration proposal to raise the general fund by five mills — the net effect on a $100,000 residence would be about $26.80.

Why it matters: council members repeatedly returned to the central…