Florence council advances $145 million FY2025-26 budget with 7.5-mill increase to fund public safety cameras and capital needs

Florence City Council members heard a presentation and public hearing on the proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget and moved the plan forward after a series of questions and a separate vote on an early-purchase ordinance. The city manager and finance staff described a $145,011,050 total budget that includes a proposed 7.5 operating mill increase intended chiefly to fund public safety equipment, capital purchases and utility needs.

The city manager summarized the budget as a “balanced budget of $145,011,050” that reflects the council’s priorities and a cautious revenue outlook. Interim Finance Director Glenn Bodenheimer told council the maximum allowable millage increase under South Carolina Revenue and Fiscal Affairs guidance was 2.95% based on the consumer price index, with unused increases from the prior three years available for a larger cumulative change; staff said that flexibility allows up to 11.7 mills total if carried forward. The administration proposed a 7.5-mill increase that would raise the operating millage to 71.6 mills; debt service would remain at 4 mills, producing a combined proposed levy of 75.6 mills.

Why it matters: Council members said the extra property tax revenue will fund items they described as urgent for public safety and city operations, including more Flock license-plate-reading cameras, a downtown police officer, a K-9 unit, mobile data terminals for officers, upgrades to the sports complex and water-system work. Council members and staff repeatedly framed the increase as a response to reductions in expected state appropriations that had previously been planned to cover some public-safety and utility items.

Key budget details provided by staff include: - General Fund (operating): $53,148,430 - General Fund debt service: $694,000 - Hospitality fund: $6,730,500 (includes transfer to athletics operations) - Water & Sewer utilities enterprise fund: $49,359,700 - Stormwater utility enterprise fund: $1,799,600 - Water & sewer construction fund: $30,725,000 - Total all funds: $145,011,050

Public-safety funding and cameras: Council members discussed the demonstrated effectiveness of an initial 30 Flock cameras installed last year. Police and city staff reported that from July 2024 through March 2025 the system helped arrest 48 fugitives, recover 38 stolen vehicles, recover 35 stolen license plates, solve more than 20 crimes and locate seven missing people. Councilman Braddock and others said additional cameras would move the program from reactive to preventive policing. Staff noted some forthcoming cameras will be mobile and that coordination with Florence County law-enforcement (Sheriff Joy) is under way for areas that cross jurisdictions.

State appropriations shortfall: City officials said they requested about $16 million in state appropriations this year; late cuts at the state level eliminated or reduced those earmarks, forcing the city to cover some previously planned purchases and appropriations locally. The city manager told council a recent $1.2 million fire-apparatus purchase had come from prior state appropriations but that similar future items would now need local funding or alternate sources.

Early-purchase ordinance: Council approved (first reading/initial approval) an ordinance to use up to $1,111,600 of the city’s 30% fund-balance policy to make certain FY2025–26 capital purchases in the current year. Staff said the intent is to lock in prices and avoid cost increases amid economic uncertainty; the item was presented as a balancing tool in the FY25–26 budget process.

Public comment at the hearings: During the community-development-block-grant (CDBG) public hearing, representatives from Helping Florence Flourish and Meals on Wheels urged council to fund local home-repair and senior-meal programs. Helping Florence Flourish said it has 49 repair requests in the city; Meals on Wheels reported hundreds of seniors on its waiting list for home-delivered meals.

Council next steps: Staff will circulate draft master plans for sewer collection, water distribution and stormwater, and council signaled interest in further public information sessions. The proposed millage increase and related budget ordinances will return for additional readings as required by state law before final adoption.

Ending: City officials said they prefer to use reserves and local revenue to sustain services rather than cut programs, but they noted further budget choices will depend on the council’s direction at upcoming readings and on any later changes in state or federal funding.