Charleston approves $113.6 million FY2027 budget without raising taxes or fees

Charleston City Council approved a $113.6 million budget for fiscal year 2027 on March 16, with no increase in city taxes or fees, according to the city.

The spending plan includes a $1,040 pay increase for all city employees, continued police and fire recruitment incentives, and a phased retention incentive in the police budget. It also directs money toward roads, capital equipment and projects, and neighborhood revitalization.

Roads, employees and public safety

The city said road improvements are expected to receive at least $5 million when outside funding sources, including West Virginia Division of Highways funds, are included. The announcement does not specify how much of that total had already been secured from outside sources.

The budget includes $7.8 million in capital outlay. The city’s announcement identifies capital spending as a budget priority but does not say that every planned capital project is fully funded or already underway.

For city workers, the budget provides the across-the-board $1,040 increase. For public safety, it continues recruitment incentives for the Charleston Police Department and Charleston Fire Department. The police budget also contains a retention incentive that is to be phased in. The budget does not establish whether those measures will resolve staffing needs in either department.

Reserves and financial position

Charleston reported a $54 million improvement in its overall financial position. The city listed its Rainy Day Fund at $18.3 million and its Employee Health Reserve at $26.3 million.

Those figures are part of the city’s budget announcement. They should not be treated as audited financial outcomes based on the information released with the announcement.

Connection to broader city plans

The budget arrives as Charleston pursues major infrastructure and economic-development initiatives. In a January State of the City address, Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin outlined plans for a $20 million Public Safety Center, a $25 million Capital Connector Project and a $5 million road-repair goal. The city also discussed a proposed acquisition of Town Center Mall.

Those January items were presented as plans or proposals. Council’s March budget announcement does not establish that all of them are funded through the FY2027 budget or under construction.

The approved budget now sets the city’s spending framework for FY2027, covering employee compensation, public-safety incentives, roads and capital outlay without a city tax or fee increase. The source packet did not identify a later budget amendment or an implementation report.