City releases FY 2025–26 proposed budget; property tax rate held at 39.54¢

City officials on Monday presented Greenville’s proposed fiscal year 2025–26 budget, a plan that keeps the property tax rate at 39.54¢ and would fund pay increases, public safety hires, pavement management, and early steps in an affordable‑housing strategy.

The budget presentation was an informational item; formal adoption is scheduled after a public hearing in June.

Key points - Property tax: Proposed rate remains 39.54¢ (city staff noted this is low relative to peer cities cited in the presentation). - Total budget: The consolidated budget including GUC, the Convention & Visitor Authority and the library totals roughly $502.5 million; the city operating budget is about $183.4 million and the general fund $118.9 million. - Personnel and pay: The proposal funds an average 4 percent general wage increase for city employees and increases the city 401(k) contribution from 3% to 4% of pay; it also increases pension/benefit contributions. - Public safety: The budget includes six additional fire/EMS positions (to expand EMS coverage) and requests eight new police positions tied to a federal COPS grant that would fund 75% of those hires for three years; council discussed retention payments tied to years of service for both police and fire. - Capital and operations: The budget funds $3.1 million for pavement management, $3.0 million for vehicle replacement, $1.2 million for facility improvements, $400,000 for IT infrastructure improvements and continues stormwater funding per the previously adopted rate plan (no stormwater fee increase proposed this year). - Sanitation and stormwater: Sanitation rates proposed to increase to $19.25 (including cart fee); stormwater fees are unchanged for FY26 under the city’s existing schedule. - Affordable housing: The proposed budget establishes an initial $200,000 allocation for an affordable housing strategy to grow to a recurring $1 million over several years.

Process and next steps City staff said they plan a public hearing on June 9 and aim to adopt the budget on June 12. Council discussion focused on revenue assumptions (notably sales tax), departmental needs and the tradeoffs involved in keeping the tax rate unchanged.

Speakers - Jacob Joyner — Chief Financial Officer (presenter) - Chief Davenport (Fire Rescue), Chief Tyndall (Police), and department leads who appeared for Q&A

Authorities - City budget ordinance process and relevant internal policies (presentation referenced standard budget and charter processes).

No vote was taken; council will consider adoption after the required public hearing later in June.

Ending City staff asked council for direction and said they would present recommended adjustments following public input before the formal adoption vote.

Speakers - Jacob Joyner — Chief Financial Officer (presenter) - Chief Davenport — Fire Rescue - Chief Tyndall — Police

Authorities - Budget ordinance and city charter procedures — referenced_by:["fy25-26-budget-proposal"]

Actions - none (presentation and schedule for public hearing and adoption).

Discussion_decision:{"discussion_points":["Maintain property tax rate at 39.54¢; budget funds public safety hires and a 4% average pay increase.","Sales tax revenue outlook is uncertain; staff proposed a conservative sales tax projection.","Sanitation rate increase proposed to $19.25 per month as previously discussed."],"directions":["Hold public hearing June 9; target budget adoption June 12.","Staff to provide additional detail on revenue projections and any requested adjustments."],"decisions":[]}

clarifying_details:[{"category":"property_tax_rate","detail":"Proposed tax rate to be retained","value":0.3954,"units":"USD per $1","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Jacob Joyner"},{"category":"total_budget","detail":"Consolidated budget including utilities and authorities","value":502500000,"units":"USD","approximate":true,"source_speaker":"Jacob Joyner"},{"category":"sanitation_rate","detail":"Proposed sanitation rate first year","value":19.25,"units":"USD per month","approximate":false,"source_speaker":"Jacob Joyner"}]

proper_names:[{"name":"Greenville Utilities Commission","type":"agency"},{"name":"Shepherd Memorial Library","type":"organization"},{"name":"Convention & Visitor Authority","type":"organization"},{"name":"Pitt Community College","type":"organization"}]

community_relevance:{"geographies":["City of Greenville"],"funding_sources":["property taxes","sales taxes","GUC transfer","sanitation fees"],"impact_groups":["city employees","residents paying property tax and sanitation fees","public safety personnel"]}

meeting_context:{"engagement_level":{"speakers_count":12,"duration_minutes":90,"items_count":1},"implementation_risk":"medium","history":[{"date":"2019-04","note":"City adopted stormwater rate plan referenced in budget."}]}

searchable_tags:["budget","property tax","sanitation","public safety","affordable housing"]

provenance:{"transcript_segments":[{"block_id":"block_6695.6353","local_start":0,"local_end":260,"evidence_excerpt":"Thank you, mister manager. Mister mayor, members of the council, this is the presentation of the proposed, fiscal year 25 26 budget for the city of Greenville... The city's budget includes not just city operating funds, but it also includes Greenville Utility Commission, Convention of Visitor Authority, as well as Shepherd Memorial Library.","global_start":6695,"global_end":6748,"reason_code":"topicintro"},{"block_id":"block_8784.601","local_start":0,"local_end":120,"evidence_excerpt":"On June 9, we'll conduct a public hearing, as required by state law for the fiscal year 25 and 26 budget. And we aim to have adoption on Thursday, June 12 for the budget.","global_start":8784,"global_end":8798,"reason_code":"topicfinish"}] } ,