On Monday, June 15, City Council approved a $50 million budget for Fiscal Year 2027 that maintains essential services without increasing property taxes and makes investments in critical areas including equipment and operations.
The FY27 budget includes the following strategic investments:
- $2.9 million for vehicles and equipment for Police, Fire and Public Works departments
- $400,000 for road resurfacing
- $275,000 for the continued construction of sidewalks and trails
- 2 percent cost-of-living increase for staff
These investments are fundamental to achieving the five-year Strategic Plan’s goals of high-quality services, a vibrant community, strong and reliable infrastructure, and defining Mauldin’s character and identity.
The budget maintains the City’s current tax millage rate and business license fees and includes increases for certain development-related fees assessed by the Business & Development Services department.
“This budget moves Mauldin forward in a thoughtful and financially responsible way,” said Mayor Terry Merritt. “As our community continues to grow and service demand increases, we are investing in the people, infrastructure and core functions that support our residents every day while ensuring we remain a wonderful place to live, work and play.”
Since 2010, Mauldin has grown from a community of just under 23,000 residents to more than 30,000 residents today. The City is poised for continued growth over the next several years as homebuilding remains strong, business interest in the community grows, and new projects such as GE Vernova Park and District South, a mixed-use development at Tanner Road and Verdin Road, come online.
“I’m proud of how this budget prepares Mauldin for continued growth while staying focused on responsible financial management,” said Michael Reynolds, chair of the Finance & Policy Committee. “Our departments continue to maintain a high level of fiscal discipline, maximizing the utility of every dollar for the greatest value to the community while addressing our most critical needs.”
The FY27 budget forecasts approximately 7.5 percent in General Fund revenue growth due to recent 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.
Mauldin continues to face several challenges when it comes to expenses, including an increase in service demand, inflation, higher property and casualty insurance rates, and higher utility rates, resulting in an increase in personnel costs, operational and maintenance costs, and capital acquisition costs. General Fund expenditures are expected to grow by 7.7 percent year-over-year due to these factors.
“With this budget, the City remains on solid financial footing while continuing to invest in our employees and make key capital investments in essential government services,” said City Administrator Seth Duncan. “The future remains bright for the City of Mauldin.”
The new fiscal year begins on July 1, 2026. The full FY27 budget can be found at https://cityofmauldin.org/departments/finance/#budget.