In one minute
Budget Workshop Meeting of the Town of Bluffton on May 28, 2026: meeting called to order at 5:00 PM; no public comment; staff reviewed carryover budget items and Capital Improvement Program (CIP) fund topics for FY27; workshop adjourned at 5:45 PM. Minutes signed by Town Clerk and Mayor.
Executive summary
On May 28, 2026, the Town of Bluffton held a Budget Workshop Meeting at the Theodore D. Washington Municipal Building (Henry "Emmett" McCracken Jr. Council Chambers, 20 Bridge Street, Bluffton, SC). Mayor Pro-tempore Hamilton called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM; Mayor Toomer and Councilmember Burden were absent. There was no public comment. Town Manager Stephen Steese recapped and updated carryover items from the May 21, 2026 budget workshop and the FY27 consolidated budget first reading. Topics discussed included shuttle services for events and the funding mechanism via transfers into Local Accommodations Taxes for Police support, a $30,000 allocation to Beaufort Marine Search & Rescue, estimates (approximately 50–75) of remaining septic systems in certain neighborhoods following sewer extension/connection projects and a request for BJWSA assistance with updated billing information, and evaluation of additional School Resource Officer (SRO) positions with county school leadership and the Bluffton Police Chief. The Capital Improvement Program Fund and the FY27 proposed consolidated budget transfers by fund/category were also reviewed. The workshop adjourned at 5:45 PM. The minutes are signed by Marcia Hunter, Town Clerk, and Larry C. Toomer, Mayor, and stamped APPROVED.
Why it matters
The workshop covered FY27 budget items and CIP funding allocations that affect town services (police support for events, marine search & rescue funding, sewer connection outreach and billing, and school-area SRO staffing). These discussions inform final budget decisions and potential interagency coordination (e.g., BJWSA, Beaufort County School District).
Key decisions
Source/Context: Page 1, III. WORKSHOP ITEMS, bullet under 'Shuttle Services for Events' (image page 1).
Source/Context: Page 1, III. WORKSHOP ITEMS, bullet list (image page 1).
Source/Context: Page 1, III. WORKSHOP ITEMS, bullet 'Properties Not Hooked to Sewer' (image page 1).
Source/Context: Page 1, III. WORKSHOP ITEMS, bullet list (image page 1).
Source/Context: Page 1, III. WORKSHOP ITEMS, item 2 (Capital Improvement Program Fund) (image page 1).
Agenda items
Mayor Pro-tempore Hamilton called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM. Mayor Toomer and Councilmember Burden were absent from the meeting.
Theodore D. Washington Municipal Building, Henry "Emmett" McCracken Jr. Council Chambers, 20 Bridge Street, Bluffton, SC
Source/Context: Page 1, header and Section I (image page 1).
No Public Comment.
Theodore D. Washington Municipal Building, Henry "Emmett" McCracken Jr. Council Chambers, 20 Bridge Street, Bluffton, SC
Source/Context: Page 1, Section II (image page 1).
Town Manager Stephen Steese provided recap and updates from the FY27 Consolidated Budget first reading and the May 21, 2026 budget workshop. Topics discussed: shuttle services for events and funding mechanism (transfers into Local Accommodations Taxes when events approved for State Accommodations Tax request police support); $30,000 for Beaufort Marine Search & Rescue; properties not hooked to sewer with an estimated 50-75 remaining septic systems in Historic District, Buck Island and Simmonsville Road neighborhoods and request to BJWSA for updated billing information; evaluation of additional SRO positions in school area with Dr. Frank Rodriguez and Joe Babkiewicz.
Motions
None recorded.
Votes
None recorded.
Public comments
Source/Context: Page 1, Section II (image page 1).
Action items
None recorded.
Official sources
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