Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Sumter City unveils FY2026–27 draft budget showing a projected deficit; council schedules workshop
Summary
City staff presented a draft FY2026–27 budget showing projected revenues of about $100.38 million and expenditures of about $103.39 million; a 3% across-the-board raise and rising insurance, chemical and fuel costs were cited as contributors to the gap. Staff said a balanced budget is expected after further review and a council workshop.
Mr. French presented the city's draft FY2026–27 budget and said the city code requires a draft at least 40 days before the fiscal year. "From where we stand right now, is a projected revenues of $100,378,000 $928. Expenditures of 103 million, 390,156," he said (transcript formatting unclear for exact punctuation). He told the council the general fund still needed work to come into balance and that staff expected to reach a balanced budget before adoption.
Mr. French said the draft contains a 3% across-the-board raise and cited rising chemical, fuel and insurance costs as factors widening the gap. When asked about last year's general fund figure, council members said it was roughly $2.9 million at a comparable point. Mr. French noted the 3% across‑the‑board increase is roughly $2 million and that insurance increases had required budgeting for about half the year previously; he offered to provide additional detail on insurance rate changes.
Councilmembers asked follow-up questions about revenue assumptions and wholesale water contract treatment; staff said wholesale rates per 1,000 gallons are included in the proposed amendments to rates presented in a separate item. Mr. French and staff said they expect to refine projections as three additional months of revenue data arrive and that a budget workshop is scheduled so council and staff can make further adjustments.
The presentation recorded figures and broad drivers but contained some formatting artifacts in the transcripted revenue figure; staff-provided budget documents in the council packet should be used for exact line-item figures and final adoption steps. No formal vote was taken on the draft budget at this meeting; council work remains before final adoption.
