On Monday, June 16, City Council approved a $43.1 million budget for Fiscal Year 2026 that maintains service delivery without increasing property taxes, makes strategic investments in essential services including police, fire and sanitation, and provides funding for the replacement of various equipment.
The FY26 budget includes the following investments:
- $1.1 million in capital equipment including police vehicles and fire department equipment
- $400K for resurfacing of City-owned roads
- $255K for construction and improvement of trails and sidewalks
- $1.1 million in debt retirement
- 2 percent Cost of Living Adjustment and 3 percent Merit pool for existing staff
The budget maintains the City’s current tax millage rate, business license rates and contractor fees, and includes a minor fee increase to the City’s sewer rate of twenty-five cents ($0.25) to offset an increase by Greenville Water on the printing of sewer bills last year. Residents will see new sewer rates starting in August.
“This year’s budget reflects our strong commitment to fiscal responsibility and community well-being — now and into the future,” said Mayor Terry Merritt. “Without raising property taxes, we’re making targeted investments in core services while providing the necessary funding to replace aging equipment and ensure our teams can operate safely and efficiently. I want to extend my sincere thanks to our dedicated staff and council members, whose hard work and careful planning made this forward-thinking budget possible.”
The budget provides funding to increase staffing levels across various departments, including the Police Department, Fire Department, Public Works, Judicial and Recreation. Each position will fulfill the surging demand within the City or leverage specialization to enhance the City’s ability to service a rapidly growing population.
Positions funded as of July 1 include:
- Accreditation Manager – Police Department
- Program Coordinator – Recreation
- Superintendent – Public Works
- Administrative Judge – Judicial
Positions funded as of January 1st:
- 3 Firefighters – Fire Department
- Training Officer – Fire Department
- Part-time staffing at the Mauldin Cultural Center, Senior Center and Administration
Since 2010, Mauldin has grown from a community of just under 23,000 residents to more than 29,700 residents today. That number is projected to increase to 35,000 residents by 2030.
“I’m proud of this budget, and I’m proud of what it will do for the future of this city, both in terms of preparing it for growth and maintaining the exceptional services we currently provide,” said Michael Reynolds, chair of the Finance & Policy Committee. “This budget ensures that as Mauldin’s population increases and the demand for services rises along with it, we will have the personnel, equipment and programs to effectively serve this great community.”
The budget makes investments aligned with City Council’s goals, as defined in the City’s recently adopted Strategic Plan in four key areas: High-Quality Services, Vibrant Community, Strong & Reliable Infrastructure, and Character & Identity.
The FY2026 budget is approximately 9.9 percent more than FY2025’s budget due to strong revenue growth from economic development activities, increased tourism-related activity and enhanced revenue collections by staff.
The City continues to see robust revenue growth across all major funds as the local economy remains strong. As part of one of the fastest-growing areas of the state, Mauldin is poised for continued growth over the next several years as homebuilding remains strong, business interest in the Mauldin community grows, and new projects come online.
The new fiscal year begins on July 1, 2025. A full copy of the FY26 budget can be found at https://cityofmauldin.org/departments/finance/#budget.
