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North Augusta outlines FY2026 budget with 2‑mill proposal, staffing and fee changes
Summary
City Administrator Jim Clifford presented a FY2026 budget that would add several positions (solicitor, dispatch supervisor, public-safety station sergeant, midyear animal-control technician), a 2‑mill tax increase proposal to fund those additions, fee changes for water/wastewater/sanitation, and a shift from lease purchases to outright vehicle purchases to lower interest costs.
North Augusta City Administrator Jim Clifford presented the city’s proposed fiscal-year 2026 budget at the Sept. 29 study session, saying the package is built around a modest revenue increase and targeted personnel and equipment investments.
Clifford told the council the general fund remains driven by property taxes and business-license fees and described a recommended 2‑mill increase to help cover newly requested positions and operational costs. He said the increase would cost the owner of a $305,000 home about $24 a year and would appear as part of the first reading expected in early November.
The packet proposes the following general-fund, personnel additions: a full-time solicitor to reduce a backlog of jury-trial cases; a dispatch supervisor to ensure two dispatchers per shift and avoid pulling officers off patrol; a public-safety headquarters station sergeant for court security and fleet oversight; and an animal-control technician (midyear start) to staff the shelter on weekends and support adoption and volunteer efforts. Clifford said the city could move to a 3% COLA for employees if it reduces vehicle purchases by one unit.
On capital policy, staff proposed shifting away from lease-purchase financing toward more outright vehicle purchases to limit long-term interest costs. Clifford said this transition has already cut the city’s annual lease-purchase burden and that the administration recommends replacing aging patrol vehicles with Chevrolet Tahoes and pickup trucks for longevity and lower total cost of ownership.
Enterprise funds also figure prominently. Clifford said the wastewater fee changes respond to higher charges from the Horse Creek treatment facility and the water fee updates would leave base monthly charges largely unchanged but raise consumption rates above certain thresholds. Staff recommended a $3 monthly increase in sanitation rates for in-city residential service — to $24.44 — and described how anticipated transfer-station revenue could support future capital outlays such as sanitation trucks.
Clifford and Finance Director Linda Williamson said the Moody’s rating review maintained the city’s credit status despite recent hurricane-related outlays. Councilmembers pressed staff on details including the scope of the proposed solicitor role, how impact fees would be tracked, whether concessions and tourism revenues were reclassified, and potential alternatives to a millage increase. Clifford said staff can rework the packet between the study session and the public hearing to reflect council guidance.
Next steps: staff will publish the public hearing notice and present the budget for public comment on Oct. 20, with ordinance readings to follow in October–November.
