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Bluffton staff present budget just under $114 million; council weighs adding an SRO at May River High School
Summary
Town staff presented a proposed consolidated 2026–27 budget nearing $114 million, holding the millage at 36 mills and proposing pay increases; council debated options to fund an additional school resource officer at May River High School, with the chief saying the district could contribute roughly $40,000.
Bluffton staff on Thursday laid out a proposed consolidated 2026–27 budget just short of $114 million and told the Town Council they plan to hold the property millage at 36 mills while increasing pay to help recruit and retain employees.
The budget presentation, given at a May 21 workshop, described a $113-million–range consolidated budget that the presenter said is “just short of $114,000,000.” The proposal reflects a 4.4% increase over the prior year, driven by general and special revenue funds, and keeps the town’s property millage at 36 mills while recommending a 3% cost-of-living adjustment and a midyear merit program similar to last year but with a higher cap.
Why it matters: council members were focused on two pressing items — officer recruitment and school safety. Police staffing and pay were highlighted as priorities to maintain public safety, and council discussed a possible additional school resource officer (SRO) at May River High School if the school district will contribute to the cost.
Town staff outlined options for the May River High School SRO, noting the added position would include personnel, operating costs and a vehicle. "That includes the personnel and operating associated as well as the vehicle," the presenter said. The police chief described two staffing options and said one approach would be to create a Class 3 SRO — a schedule aligned with the school calendar that the chief said is easier to recruit for. "This being one of them, which was the least favorable option because the town would end up paying all of the cost associated with the SROs," the chief said of the fully town-funded option.
The chief told council he met with the school district and that district officials are reviewing whether the district could redirect roughly $40,000 currently spent on a security guard toward an SRO salary to offset town costs. The chief and council emphasized timing challenges: SRO candidates require state training and SRO certification that can take several weeks, so recruitment should begin soon if council wants an officer in place for the school year.
On compensation and staffing more broadly, the presenter proposed raising the starting police recruit pay to about $61,000 (the presentation cited $60,999.12) and compressing pay bands to improve recruitment and retention in the face of regional pay competition. "So this will get our current pay for starting police officers from $54 up to $61," the presenter said, adding the adjustment averages roughly an 8% increase for officers.
Other budget highlights included continued funding for strategic priorities — affordable housing (15% of ATAX where allowed by state law), historic preservation, parks and public infrastructure — and a transfer of roughly $8.3 million to capital improvement projects, largely for land acquisition. Presenter also flagged an emergency procurement to replace failing HVAC units at the law enforcement center and said the town will notify council in June after using emergency procurement authority.
Next steps: the council will hold a second budget workshop May 28 focused on capital projects and may consider decisions between first and second readings. Staff said if council directs adding an SRO, they will pursue recruitment and, if needed, request midyear funding adjustments.
