Chesterfield Council approves 2026–27 budget with employee COLA, sheriff vehicle purchases and veteran fee exemption

The Chesterfield County Council approved its 2026–27 general fund budget and related ordinance readings, agreeing to countywide cost‑of‑living increases for employees and to purchase additional sheriff's office vehicles without increasing county‑side millage.

During third reading the council highlighted key budget elements: roughly a 4% cost‑of‑living adjustment for county employees (no raise for elected officials), purchase of more sheriff vehicles than historically acquired at once, and additional sheriff positions including two officers to be assigned to southern parts of the county and two for a crime suppression unit. Council members emphasized those items were funded without a county‑side tax increase, attributing funding to budget cuts and organic revenue increases.

The budget discussion responded directly to public comment on fees. In the meeting's reports, Councilman Ford read an added section inserted into the budget ordinance that says, in the transcript text, "All persons and entities deemed to be exempt from adalarum taxation pursuant to South Carolina code section 1237220 shall likewise be exempt from the assessment or collection of any fees that are imposed by Chesterfield County Council and described in this ordinance." The added clause was presented as applying in the 2026–27 budget year; council noted the language is intended to exempt those already tax‑exempt under the cited state code from county fees such as fire fees, the solid‑waste management fee and county road improvement and maintenance fees.

The addition followed earlier public comments from veterans and advocates asking for fee relief. Howard Rogers, a service officer with Disabled American Veterans Chapter 50, asked the council to "please consider" waiving fees for permanently disabled veterans who had received tax exemptions but were receiving notices showing added fees.

Council approved the third reading of the general fund budget and related ordinances by voice vote; roll‑call tallies were not read on the transcript. Staff and council indicated further administrative steps to implement the budget and the added exemption clause.

What happens next: budget implementation for the fiscal year 2026–27 continues; staff will incorporate the exemption language as described during the ordinance process. The transcript does not show a vote roll‑call or a detailed fiscal spreadsheet in the meeting record.