Bluffton adopts $113.9 million FY2027 budget, preserves millage and adds pilot placeholders

Bluffton Town Council approved the town’s FY2027 consolidated budget on second and final reading, voting to adopt a $113,913,988 spending plan that the town manager said preserves core services and council priorities.

Steve, the town’s finance staff who presented the plan, summarized changes since first reading and workshops, including a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and a midyear merit pool; staff said the adopted budget is about a 4.4% increase over the prior year. The budget preserves the property millage at 36 mills and includes funding for affordable housing, historic preservation and infrastructure projects. "This is the budget that is in front of council that we've worked through over the last three meetings to get to," Steve said during the presentation.

Council discussed several allocations and placeholders: a potential additional school-resource officer at May River High School (staff will return with a cost-share proposal), a placeholder of up to $30,000 discussed for Bufort Marine Search and Rescue that council trimmed to $20,000 for equipment (council directed the final placeholder reflect the boat-equipment request), and a proposed regional child-care pilot (TriShare-style) for which some members supported a conditional $18,000 placeholder per jurisdiction subject to additional program details and matching funds.

Staff also reported approximately 50 to 75 remaining septic systems that are not yet connected to sewer and said conversion work will be a strategic priority in the coming year. The budget package carried a unanimous voice vote.

Next procedural step: staff will process any required administrative adjustments and report back on the pilot programs and placeholders before funds are expended.