Greenwood County adopts $58.3 million FY2026 budget with no millage increase, adds $5 road user fee

Deputy County Manager for Finance Stephanie Dorn presented the final FY2026 operating and capital budgets totaling $58,300,000 and told council there would be no increase in millage for property taxes. Dorn said the budget includes a $5 road user fee on vehicle bills to fund resurfacing, a 3% cost-of-living adjustment for regular employees effective with the first full paycheck in July, and up to a 3% merit increase to be considered next year based on evaluations. The budget also adds four sheriff's deputies to uniform patrol and funds FERC-required dam assessments and major repairs to a retaining wall at the county dam.

Dorn described small adjustments since earlier readings: additional general fund dollars from a Department of Revenue audit, lower-than-expected insurance and printing costs, and reallocations to avoid future budget amendments. Dorn said total funds allocated are $58,300,000 and that most taxpayers (about 12,000) will see an average increase of $11.34 per bill due to specific fee adjustments, with some commercial accounts seeing larger increases.

Council voted to approve the budget on third and final reading. Chairman Lane and members praised staff for producing a balanced budget and the vote was unanimous.

Why it matters: the adopted budget sets county priorities (public safety staffing, road resurfacing funding, dam repairs) and determines the millage rollback and tax bills later this year. The council emphasized steps to avoid a revenue windfall and to communicate clearly with residents about reassessment versus taxes.

Attribution: fiscal details and direct quotes are taken from Deputy County Manager Stephanie Dorn's presentation and council action recorded in the meeting transcript.