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Horry County Council adopts $869.9 million FY2026 budget with 11–1 vote
Summary
Horry County Council approved a $869.9 million fiscal‑year 2026 budget on first reading, voting 11–1 to adopt a plan that adds 114 positions, funds targeted pay increases and uses fund balance while keeping millage and citizen fees unchanged.
Horry County Council voted to adopt a $869,900,000 fiscal‑year 2026 budget on April 10 during its budget retreat, with the chair announcing the motion carried 11–1.
Council members approved the plan after staff presented a package that the county said contains no millage increase and no customer fee increases. Barry Spivey, who presented the retreat orientation, summarized the proposal as one that "contains no millage increase" and includes both a 5% across‑the‑board pay recommendation and targeted market adjustments for certain public‑safety and heavy‑equipment positions.
Staff said the budget adds 114 new positions (77 in public safety, 17 at the airport, 11 in infrastructure and recreation) and builds in an $11,000,000 use of fund balance for the general fund. Shannon Todd, assistant county administrator and chief financial officer, told the council that month‑end February revenues stood at $330.8 million and that the county is projecting roughly $19 million of additional general‑fund revenue for the fiscal year.
The budget package preserves reserves and contingencies, with staff estimating the county will maintain an unassigned general‑fund balance of roughly $50 million after the budgetary actions. The agenda item was recorded as ordinance 39 20 25 on first reading and was adopted by the council vote.
Council direction at the retreat emphasized maintaining levels of service while adding critical personnel and addressing pay compression, and staff committed to providing supplemental salary‑comparison data ahead of the second reading.
What comes next: staff said the budget will return for its second reading and any follow‑up materials requested by council before final adoption procedures.
