Clemson council presents FY2027 budget with no millage increase; average homeowner sees about $4 monthly impact

City staff on June 1 presented the proposed fiscal year 2027 operating and capital budget to Clemson City Council, saying the plan holds the city's millage steady while projecting a modest overall rate increase that would add about $4 per month for the average homeowner.

From the podium Andy, a member of the city finance team, told the public the budget is the product of an inclusive six-month process that drew input from many employees and prioritized outcomes the council established last year, including attractive infrastructure, citizen-focused services, and improved town–gown relations. "From the 30,000-foot view, you're looking at no millage increase," Andy said. "We have an overall rate increase of 3.3%. So for the average home, you're looking at $4 a month."

Leslie, a city staff member who walked the council through fund-level details, said the city expects roughly $69.4 million in total revenues, about $56 million in operating expenditures and capital purchases and projects totaling in the tens of millions (staff presented capital purchases of roughly $51.3 million broken out by fund). Leslie noted that some capital spending will be paid from bond proceeds and previously saved funds rather than current operating revenue. She also described enterprise-fund items: the water and sewer budgets include a recommended 4% rate increase tied to a rate study, and the sewer capital program includes major pump-station projects, one of which is an approximately $8 million project with an anticipated $4 million grant contribution.

City staff highlighted personnel changes in the proposed budget — a net increase of seven full-time positions, estimated at roughly $530,000 — and detailed specific adds and reclassifications such as public-safety positions, a police telecommunicator, a mechanic and an associate planner. Staff also explained special revenue and capital project funds have designated uses and cannot be spent on general purposes.

At the public hearing, residents asked technical questions about debt, smart meters and a proposed $1 paper-statement fee. Dusty, a utilities staff member, explained that although automated ("smart") meters remove day-to-day manual reads, meter staff currently focus on leak detection, alarm response and tamper alerts rather than routine readings. Leslie said the paper-statement fee would be a flat $1 per mailed statement.

Council took the first reading of the FY2027 operating budget at the meeting and advanced it for eventual final action after the statutory and public-notice steps required for adoption. Council members and staff said they would publish project lists (including the street-paving lists mentioned in the presentation) so residents can see which roads and sidewalks are scheduled in 2026 and 2027.

What happens next: the council advanced the budget on first reading and may consider amendments before final adoption in a future meeting. Members of the public asked staff to make supporting materials and specific paving lists available promptly.

Sources: city staff presentations and the public hearing at the June 1, 2026 Clemson City Council meeting.