The City of Summerville has approved a balanced budget for the 2026-2027 fiscal year that includes no increases to property taxes or utility base rates.

The Summerville City Council unanimously adopted the $29.33 million budget Monday evening for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2026, and ending June 30, 2027.

City Manager Jason Winters told council members the spending plan maintains current service levels while avoiding additional costs for residents.

“There are no proposed rate increases for any of our utility customers and no proposed property taxes,” Winters said during the budget presentation.

Mayor Rickey Hughes emphasized that the budget continues the city’s commitment to maintaining senior citizen discounts while avoiding tax and utility increases.

Highlights of the budget include:

• No increases to water, sewer, or gas base rates
• No city property tax levy
• Senior citizen utility discounts remain in place
• The city workforce includes 84 full-time and 17 part-time employees
• Outstanding debt stands at approximately $6.225 million
• Annual debt service totals roughly $805,000

Winters described the budget as fiscally cautious while still allowing for targeted investments in infrastructure, staffing, and equipment.

The city expects growth in several revenue sources, including franchise taxes, insurance premium taxes, gas authority rebates, sanitation fees, court fines, and Main Street revenues driven by continued downtown events and concerts.

The capital improvement plan relies heavily on grants, ARPA funding, and local sales tax revenues rather than new debt or rate increases. Officials also noted that a new SPLOST cycle is beginning, with the city expecting approximately $950,000 in 2026 for recreation-related projects, including playground improvements and splash pad parking enhancements.

City leaders said the budget balances financial responsibility with continued investment in city services and community amenities.