Berkeley County adopts $345 million fiscal 2026 budget; millage rate stays at 41 mills

Berkeley County Council approved a package of ordinances on third reading Monday that adopts the county's fiscal year 2026 budgets, leaving the county millage rate unchanged at 41 mills and showing a total countywide budget around $345 million.

County staffer Allen Milburn presented the third-reading budget overview, saying the countywide total 'including Water & Sanitation, special revenue and capital funds'had grown to about $345,000,000 while the general fund is roughly $156,000,000. "The current general fund recommended budget includes no millage rate increase and no use of fund balance for recurring expenditures," Milburn said.

The budget package approved by council includes personnel additions and department-level changes described by staff: 41 new positions in the general fund (including a small business manager and a split-funded assistant project manager), 10 new Water & Sanitation positions (five for construction crews), added detention-center officers and deputies in public safety, four telecommunicators for 911 staffing, and a new fire services manager position. The package also includes fee and rate provisions for Berkeley County Water and Sanitation.

Why it matters: the budget sets county tax policy and spending for the next year and funds public-safety, public-works and service expansions tied to county growth. Milburn emphasized the county's conservative approach to budgeting and said the adopted numbers balance without drawing on reserves for recurring costs.

Votes at a glance (third reading combined vote): the council combined and approved third readings for bills 25-17, 25-25, 25-26, 25-27, 25-28, 25-29, 25-30, 25-31, 25-32, 25-33, 25-34, 25-35 and 25-36. The slate included the primary countywide appropriations ordinance (bill 25-30) and the water and sanitation budgets (bill 25-31). The motion to combine and approve the slate passed on voice vote with the chair recording the result as carried.

Context and details: Milburn said the county's expenditures are currently shown near $153,000,000 with a positive delta that would be placed in a non-spendable contribution to fund balance. He said solid-waste and recycling fee adjustments are included, and the solid-waste tire-disposal rate was noted in staff comments as tied to state allowances. Milburn also highlighted a new digital budget platform that publishes departmental reports and historical trends online.

Council reaction and next steps: multiple council members praised staff and the digital transparency tools. Councilman Tommy Newell and others noted the budget's public-safety investments and the creation of a C&I team to speed sales-tax-funded projects. The ordinances take effect according to the statutory timelines for county ordinances; the council did not specify separate effective dates in the meeting record.

Ending: Council approved the combined third-reading slate by voice vote and adjourned; the county will publish the adopted budget documents on the county's online budget platform for public review.