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Bluffton council adopts $97.5M FY2026 consolidated budget with land acquisition and housing investments
Summary
Council approved the town's FY2026 consolidated budget (about $97.5 million), including roughly $9.7 million for land acquisition carried forward, a new affordable‑housing FTE, a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for employees, and modest fee schedule updates.
The Town of Bluffton on June 5 approved its fiscal year 2026 consolidated budget by unanimous vote. Staff told the council the overall budget is about $97,500,000; changes since first reading included increasing the land acquisition line to roughly $9.7 million (resulting in a roughly $2.5 million net increase), updates to the master fee schedule to include property owners, and the addition of a full‑time equivalent position focused on affordable housing.
The budget keeps the property millage flat at 36 mills, funds a 3% cost‑of‑living increase for all employees and a merit pool for midyear raises, and maintains partnerships such as Palmetto Breeze and the town's work with the University of South Carolina Beaufort on water‑quality monitoring. A motion to approve the FY2026 consolidated budget was made and seconded on the council floor and carried unanimously. "As you can see, the overall budget is about $97,500,000," staff summarized during the presentation.
