Annual Citizens Financial Report CHARLESTON COUNTY, SOUTH CAROLINA
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Charleston County's FY 2026 Budget was presented on May 22, 2025, with a three-reading ordinance process scheduled for May 22, May 27, and June 10, 2025. The county proposes 33 new positions across departments, including 20 EMS positions, 7 for the Tri-County Biological Science Center, 4 for Awendaw Fire District, and 1 each for Coroner and Public Defender, alongside 4 additional positions in Housing & Land Management, Community Development & Revitalization, Planning & Zoning, and Building Inspections. General Fund appropriations are projected to increase 4.2 percent to $365.5 million in FY 2026 from $350.7 million in FY 2025, while Debt Service appropriations are projected to increase 47.0 percent to $56.5 million from $38.4 million. The Northern Charleston Fire District millage rate increases 0.7 mills to 16.2 mills in FY 2026, resulting in an $11.20 tax change for a $400,000 homeowner, while other county and district millage rates remain unchanged.
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The City of North Charleston adopted Ordinance #2025-036 for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2026, amending Budget Ordinance #2025-021 to adjust the millage rate due to the 2025 Charleston County reassessment. The millage rate was rolled back from 95 mills to 91.5 mills total, comprising 81.5 mills for General Purpose and 10 mills for Debt Service, representing a 3.5-mill reduction. The Finance Committee voted unanimously 10-0-0 on September 18, 2025, to approve the amendment, followed by City Council approval via roll call vote 9-0-0 on the same date, with first and second readings held on September 11 and September 18, 2025, respectively.
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Charleston County, South Carolina adopted its FY 2021 budget, which became effective July 1, 2021, under the leadership of County Council Chairman J. Elliott Summey and County Administrator William L. Tuten. The budget document received the Government Finance Officers Association (GFOA) Distinguished Budget Presentation Award for the 31st consecutive year, meeting criteria as a policy document, operations guide, financial plan, and communications device. The budget was prepared by the Budget Department under Budget Director Mack Gile and includes budget narratives, performance measures, and community statistics across a 504-page document.
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