June 2026 Council News

The Sumter City Council met twice this month for our regularly scheduled meetings, where council members addressed a variety of community development, infrastructure, and budget-related matters.

• Council approved the final reading on a rezoning request at 609 West Oakland Avenue from Residential-6 to Planned Development.

• Council approved amendments to the Fiscal Year 2025-26 budget, and the Fiscal Year 2026-2027 budget. 
  • While the City’s millage rate used to calculate property tax bills technically has not changed, State law requires local governments to calculate a lower 'rollback' millage rate during reassessment years to prevent a windfall from property value increases alone. However, the law also allows local governments to elect not to roll back all or a portion of that millage. The City has chosen not to fully roll back the millage in order to maintain the revenues necessary to continue providing police, fire, sanitation, parks, infrastructure, and other essential services at current service levels. In addition, the City will increase the starting minimum pay for Fire & Police.

Additional agenda items included:

• Council also approved Resolution 1031 authorizing an agreement with the South Carolina Office of Resilience to fund a Municipal Fleet Fueling Facility on the western side of the city to improve redundancy and ensure continued fueling capability during critical events, and 

• Council also approved a Maintenance Guarantee Phase 4 of the Williamsburg Subdivision, located along Old York Road, Mustang Lane, and Sabra Drive. Maintenance agreements may be entered into between the City and a Developer when all street and infrastructure improvements have been completed using proper workmanship and materials.

• The City of Sumter’s Summer Youth Employment Program is currently providing meaningful work experiences through two active tracks: Youth Corps and Youth Co-Op. Over the course of seven weeks, participants gain valuable leadership development and soft skills training while making a positive impact throughout the community. From assisting neighbors and beautification efforts to litter cleanup and supporting local business partners, these young people are building workplace skills, developing confidence, and learning the value of service while contributing to the quality of life in Sumter. To learn more about youth programs around Sumter, visit SumterSCYouth.com.

• A special thank you to Duke Energy for helping make our second annual Touch A Truck: Storm Readiness event such a success. As part of the event, Duke Energy also presented both the City of Sumter and Sumter County with $12,000 grants to support emergency preparedness projects in our community. This annual event is held at the start of hurricane season, which runs from June through November, to remind residents of three important steps: build your plan, know your zone, and stay connected. For hurricane preparedness tips, evacuation information, and resources for you and your family, visit Hurricane.SC to review the South Carolina Emergency Management Division’s Hurricane Guide today.

• The City of Sumter is excited to announce the opening of our new Fitness Court®, a free outdoor wellness space designed to help residents of all ages and fitness levels stay active, healthy, and connected. This exciting addition was made possible through a partnership with the National Fitness Campaign, the University of South Carolina Sumter, and the Williams-Brice-Edwards Community Trust. Located at 199 University Drive, between USC Sumter and the Palmetto Tennis Center, the Fitness Court® provides a full-body workout experience using your own body weight and is open to the public at no cost. Whether you're just beginning your fitness journey or looking for a new challenge, we invite you to come explore this innovative community resource and take a step toward a healthier future. For tutorials and more, visit LoveSumter.com.

• Palmetto Tennis Center to serve as a hub for expanded hands-only CPR education. Thank you to the American Heart Association for the CPR kit donation. The kits provide simple, easy-to-follow instructions that teach Hands-Only CPR in just minutes, allowing participants to practice chest compressions and learn how to respond until emergency responders arrive. Having these kits will give us the opportunity to teach more than tennis as we reach out. We are proud to work with the American Heart Association to make this training accessible for families and athletes throughout Sumter County.

• Carolina Day is an annual South Carolina holiday celebrated on June 28th. It commemorates the historic 1776 victory of Patriot forces over the British Royal Navy at the Battle of Sullivan's Island. Initially known as Palmetto Day, the holiday has been celebrated annually since 1777.
  • Join us for several events coming up in June and July:
    • Poinsett State Park Revolutionary War Hike
    • Battle in a Box
    • Revolutionary War Trivia
    • Make a Quill
    • Untold Stories of SC’s Black Patriots
    • 4th of July Celebration at the VFW
  • Visit Sumter250.org to learn more about activities coming up.

To see the full agenda from last night’s meeting, go to sumtersc.gov

All City Council meetings are now available to watch the next day on YouTube.

We invite you to visit and attend a regular City Council meeting, our meetings are typically held on the first and third Tuesday of each month. Please note that there will be no meeting on the first Tuesday of July. There is no meeting the first week of July, due to the holiday. The next scheduled meeting is July 21, at 5:30 PM. If you can’t make a meeting public comments may also be submitted online anytime through our website at sumtersc.gov/council/meetings or city residents can contact the Mayor or their Council representative any time before any meeting to discuss a concern or idea.