Richland County staff propose FY27 general‑fund plan with no mill increase, step pay and phased retiree benefit changes

Chair called the May 19 work session to order and Administrator Brown introduced staff recommendations for the FY2027 general fund, saying the administrator would not propose a mill increase for the general fund while recommending adjustments in certain special revenue funds.

Director Britney Hammond presented the general‑fund overview, saying the FY27 revenue forecast is about $251,900,000 and that operating revenue shows stable growth. Hammond said assigned fund balance would be used for some capital items and ambulance purchases and that the county remains within its 20–35% unassigned fund‑balance policy. "This fund is used to account for all financial transactions not accounted for in one of the other funds," Hammond said in the presentation.

Hammond walked council through departmental expenditures and said most growth is in public‑safety cost centers; she told council the presentation includes requested and recommended personnel items. The administrators'…