Travelers Rest council adopts FY2027 budgets, retains current tax posture

Travelers Rest City Council voted on June 8 to adopt its fiscal year 2027 general fund budget and several restricted funds, approved the annual general obligation bond renewal and accepted A-tax funding recommendations for local projects and tourism promotion.

On second reading council approved ordinance O-04-26 to adopt the FY2027 general fund budget. The ordinance text read during the meeting states an ad valorem tax of “82.9 on every dollar assessed valuation,” projected general fund revenues of $9,313,968 and general fund expenditures of $10,596,108. Council described the budget as balanced and stated there is no tax increase; the motion carried on voice vote.

Council also approved second readings for the FY2027 local hospitality tax and local accommodations tax fund budget (ordinance O-05-26). At the meeting staff reported hospitality tax revenues projected at $1,513,813 with expenditures of $1,505,013, and accommodations tax revenues projected at $188,000 with expenditures of $177,500. Staff noted both funds are restricted by state law for tourism, hospitality and accommodation-related expenditures.

Additional budget-related approvals included second reading of the victims advocate fund budget (O-06-26) and the tree mitigation fund budget (O-07-26), both described as restricted funds supporting victim services and tree canopy projects respectively. Council also renewed the city’s general obligation bond for FY2027 (O-08-26), described at the meeting as the annual renewal related to debt issued for the municipal building.

Separately, council approved A-tax Advisory Committee funding recommendations totaling $90,000 and approved the Visit Travelers Rest tourism promotion budget (separate A‑tax allocation). Council members thanked staff for preparing the budget materials and noted that approvals were routine second readings following prior committee work and public notice.

All votes were taken by voice; no roll-call tallies were read into the record. The council indicated staff will proceed with implementation of the adopted budgets and that related capital or restricted fund projects will follow existing procurement and grant-administration processes.