Anderson City Council advances proposed $94 million 2026-27 budget without property-tax increase

Anderson City Council gave initial approval July 27 to a proposed $94 million budget for the city’s 2026-27 fiscal year. The proposal does not increase the city property-tax rate, but it is not yet the city’s final adopted budget.

The plan relies partly on projected growth in property-tax and business-license revenue. The figures reflect expected economic activity from ongoing development and new commercial projects within Anderson city limits.

Revenue projections

Property-tax revenue is projected at $16.945 million, an increase of $994,000 from the comparison figure used in the budget presentation. Business-license revenue is projected at $12.965 million, up $585,000.

Those are estimates in a proposed budget rather than guaranteed collections. The projections show how the city expects development and commercial activity to support revenue in the coming fiscal year, but actual collections can differ from budget assumptions.

For city taxpayers, the immediate result of the council’s action is a proposal with no increase in the city property-tax rate. That decision applies to the city’s proposed budget; it does not determine every charge that could appear on a property-tax bill, which can also reflect other taxing entities and assessments.

Final budget action remains ahead

Monday’s vote was an initial approval, leaving final adoption as the next major step. The proposal could remain unchanged or be amended before the council adopts a spending plan for 2026-27.

The City of Anderson’s August 2026 calendar lists a City Council meeting for Aug. 10 at 6 p.m. and another council meeting on Aug. 24. The calendar does not identify either meeting as the final budget vote, so the dates are upcoming council meetings rather than a confirmed budget-adoption deadline.

The calendar also lists a Unified Development Ordinance public hearing held by city planning officials on Aug. 4. That hearing is separate from the budget action, but it falls within the same period when the city is considering development-related matters.

The proposed budget’s size, its projected revenue increases and the absence of a city property-tax increase now form the basis of the council’s preliminary action. Residents and businesses will need to follow the final vote for any changes to the plan, including its spending, fees, services or revenue assumptions.