Fort Mill Town Council on Sept. 28 adopted a $74.7 million budget for fiscal 2026-27 that raises the property tax rate from 83 to 87 mills. Council also approved a rewrite of the town’s zoning code and awarded a $470,300 contract to repair eroding stream banks along Dye Branch.
Town Manager Cary Vargo said the 4.8% tax increase is tied to 15 firefighters now paid for by a FEMA grant that runs out in fiscal 2028, along with construction of Fire Station No. 3 and the town’s new operations center. Water and sewer rates will rise 5%.
Budget and tax rate
Vargo said the budget adds no new full-time positions. The general fund totals $49.1 million, up just over 3%, and the water and sewer fund totals $22 million. Debt service rises to $8.4 million because of the fire station and operations center. A $25 million state earmark, obtained with help from state Rep. Raye Felder, covers much of the operations center’s cost.
Before the vote, council removed the town’s select baseball team from the fee schedule after one council member said council never approved fielding the team before a budget request arrived to support it. The amended budget passed on second reading with one dissenting vote. The new rates take effect Oct. 1.
Council deferred a separate $2,762,409 amendment to the current year’s budget until its Oct. 12 workshop after a council member who missed the Sept. 14 meeting asked for time to review it.
Zoning rewrite
Ordinance 2026-38, which repeals and replaces the town’s zoning code, passed second reading unchanged. One council member questioned rules for accessory dwelling units, including a required extra parking space and language that the unit “resemble” the main house. Assistant Town Manager Chris Pettit said the design language is intentionally flexible and owners facing a hardship can go to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Councilman Chris Wolfe called the rewrite “a good first step” that council will adjust over time.
Dye Branch restoration
JD Goodrum, the low bidder of five at $470,257.96, will restore about 1,300 feet of Dye Branch between Walter Elisha Park and Harris Street Park, where erosion is undermining the walking trail and threatening sewer crossings. LeeAnn Clark of the town’s stormwater department said work starts in late October and should wrap up by March 2027. The trail will be closed during construction, and about 18 large trees will be removed, many of them already falling.
Cultural district and Microtransit
Council approved Resolution 2026-41 supporting an application to the South Carolina Arts Commission to designate downtown Fort Mill a state cultural district, with the Arts Council of York County as managing partner.
Earlier, Renee Miller of Fort Mill Economic Partners outlined a 12-month microtransit pilot run by Freebee. Three electric vehicles, including a wheelchair-accessible van, will offer on-demand rides within town limits, mostly east of Interstate 77 to Sugar Creek, for $4 a trip. Full service begins Jan. 11 after a soft launch the first week of January. Miller asked the town to set aside $95,000 as backstop funding, to be used only if sponsorships and fares fall short.
Council next meets for its workshop on Oct. 12.
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Thomas Hyslip lives in Tega Cay with his wife and daughter. After 27 years in the U.S. Army and Federal Law Enforcement, he retired to pursue his passion for teaching. Tom is now an Assistant Professor of Instruction at the University of South Florida. In 2 short years he has won 10 awards from the South Carolina Press Association, including first place in column writing, education beat reporting and best podcast.
