Greenville City Council held its second workshop to review the draft budget for fiscal year 2026 on April 28.
The city of Greenville used conservative budgeting strategies for the upcoming fiscal year, allocating funding to projects soon underway and utilizing available funds. The draft budget reflects the city’s priorities: affordable housing and neighborhoods, public safety, transportation and mobility, recreation and open space, and economic development.
Patricia Dennis, the city’s chief financial officer, presented the proposed FY26 general fund revenue budget, which equals $146 million. A majority of the revenue comes from property taxes totaling $71.9 million and licenses/permits totaling $52.78 million.
The proposed general fund expenditures for fiscal year 2026 equal $150 million. The Greenville Police Department is budgeted to receive the highest percentage of funding from the general fund, equal to $40.25 million.
Other categories within the general fund expenditures include:
- Greenville City Fire Department: $22.3 million
- Public Works: $17.7 million
- Parks and Recreation: $13.6 million
- Planning and Development Services: $5.5 million
- Economic Development: $1.79 million
- Communications and Neighborhood Relations: $1.73 million
- Capital Improvement Program: $312,013
Read more about the city’s first budget workshop
In the draft budget, the city’s millage rate is unchanged at 81.4 mills and the business-license rates for the next fiscal year remain flat. A $3 monthly fee increase for solid-waste-collection services is proposed in the budget, along with 3.1% annual fee increases for stormwater and wastewater.
The first reading of the FY26 budget will be on May 12, following a public hearing. Council’s final reading of the budget is expected to be on May 19.
A recap of the April 28 meeting of the Greenville City Council:
- Council gave final approval to authorize the issuance of a general obligation bond not exceeding $10 million to replace the outdated Stone Avenue fire station. The project’s estimated budget is approximately $8.8 million.
- Council approved the first reading of an annexation and rezoning request for approximately 7.78 acres of property on Dallas Road into the city. The property will be zoned RN-C, Neighborhood C district. In March, council voted to return the request to the city’s Planning Commission for further review. The commission approved the new zoning designation for the property, which would help implement missing middle housing, on April 3.
- Council gave initial approval to annex and rezone approximately 2.09 acres on Byrdland Drive into the city. The property is located adjacent to the Greenville Downtown Airport. The property’s zoning will change from S1, Service District, in Greenville County to IX, Industrial Flex District, in the city.
- Council approved the first reading to annex and rezone approximately 1.48 acres on Redland Way and Medlock Drive. The property will be rezoned RH-C, House C District.
- Initial approval was given by council to annex 0.20 acres at 11 Traction Street into the city. The property will be rezoned to RH-D, House D District.
- Council gave initial approval to annex and rezone 0.21 acres at 105 David Street in the Park Place neighborhood into the city. The property will be rezoned RN-A, Neighborhood A District.
- Greenville City Manager Shannon Lavrin said the city received its first FEMA reimbursement check for Hurricane Helene on April 28. The check equaled approximately $3.7 million.
