Scotland County presents preliminary FY2026–27 budget; revenue-neutral explained, $1.2M fund-balance draw noted

County Manager Snead presented the county's preliminary FY2026–27 budget package and told the Board of Commissioners that, as proposed, the plan would require roughly $1.2 million from the general fund balance at a starting tax rate of $0.71.

Snead said the materials shared included the General Fund and enterprise budgets for Water Districts I and II and the Landfill. On revenue assumptions and the tax rate, she said she obtained the legal definition of “revenue neutral” from the state General Statute and summarized it as the tax rate that would generate the same total property-tax revenue as the prior year, adjusted for projected valuation changes. "That number must be published, but it does not bind you to adopt it," she said.

Commissioner Ivey pressed staff on the spreadsheets and projections, noting differences between tools and his own calculations; Finance Officer John Jorgensen said the county's preliminary expected collections ranged in the $28–29 million area under the current assumptions. Jorgensen added the county's fund balance currently measured about 28% of general-fund expenditures, and he said he would return with a breakdown of restricted versus unrestricted amounts at the Board's request.

Snead cautioned that final numbers will depend on the Board of Equalization and Review results and outstanding commercial appeals, and she recommended caution in setting long-term commitments given pending state legislation that could affect counties' tax authority. The board set deadlines for the budget process (final ordinance before June 30, with a public hearing 10 days after posting).

The board took no final tax-rate action at the meeting; Commissioners asked staff to provide the unrestricted fund-balance amount and additional detail to inform the June public hearing.