Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Budget Adoption topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Fairfield County Council adopts FY2026 budget with amendments, directing hospitality funds to local groups
Summary
Fairfield County Council on June 22 adopted Ordinance 854, the FY2026 operating and capital budget, as amended. Council voted to reallocate multiple local accommodations and hospitality (A&H) fund awards totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars to local nonprofits, events and town governments and approved budget line‑item changes.
Fairfield County Council adopted the FY2026 operating and capital budget (Ordinance 854) on June 22, approving a series of amendments that redirected funds in the local accommodations and hospitality (A&H) fund and reduced certain line items in the general fund.
Dr. Roberts read the ordinance on the floor as a proposal to set county tax levies, fees and expenditures for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. During third reading, council members proposed multiple amendments, including a motion to move $620,000 into an A&H contingency account and a motion to cut the county council professional services line from $185,000 to $50,000; both motions were seconded and recorded as passing. Council also approved allocations from the local A&H fund to local organizations and events.
Votes at a glance (as recorded in the meeting): - $620,000 allocated to A&H contingency from local hospitality fund: recorded as passed (record shows 6 in favor). - Professional services line item reduced from $185,000 to $50,000: recorded as passed (record shows 6 in favor). - Vehicle for coroner’s office ($29,000): motion failed for lack of a second. - Vehicle added to victims assistance capital project ($29,000): passed (record shows 6 in favor). - SC9 Friends (outside agencies) $5,000: passed (record shows 5–1 where noted during roll calls; see minutes). - Palmetto Conservation Group (Palmetto Trail) $90,000: passed (record shows 6 in favor). - Fairfield County Chamber of Commerce $29,300: passed (record shows 6 in favor). - Pine Tree Players $20,000: passed (record shows 6 in favor). - South Carolina Railroad Museum $237,000: passed (record shows 6 in favor). - Fairfield County Parks and Recreation $255,000: passed (record shows 6 in favor). - Fairfield County drone show $20,000: passed (record shows 6 in favor). - Fairfield County Airport Wings and Wheels Festival $5,000: passed (record shows 6 in favor). - Town of Winnsboro $250,000: passed (record shows 6 in favor). - $50,000 contingency for tourism‑promoting unexpected expenses: passed (record shows 6 in favor).
Council also handled several fee‑schedule adjustments and line‑item transfers that were incorporated into the ordinance before the final adoption vote. After amendments were read into the record and motions resolved, the body voted to adopt the ordinance as amended.
County staff and council members described the final package as a mix of program support for local tourism, culture and parks alongside tightened professional‑services spending. The record shows multiple voice votes and some recorded 5–1 tallies for individual items; the meeting minutes and roll‑call sheet supplied by the clerk should be consulted for the official, itemized vote tally by member.
The ordinance takes effect for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026. The council closed budget business and moved to second‑reading items and other agenda business after adoption.
