CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCSC) \u2014 The City of Charleston is hosting a free workshop aimed at helping residents better understand how the city\u2019s budget works and how they can have a voice in shaping spending decisions.<\/p>\n
The \u201cYour City, Your Budget\u201d workshop, hosted by the city\u2019s Economic and Neighborhood Services Division at the Gaillard Center, comes as Charleston recently adopted its largest budget to date. The 2026 budget totals $381 million, a 9% increase from the previous year.<\/p>\n
City officials said the size and growth of the budget make education about where that money goes more important than ever, and the response from residents has exceeded expectations.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve been absolutely floored that we are sold out,\u201d Becca Hopkins, the city\u2019s neighborhood services manager, said. \u201cI\u2019m pumped that people care.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hopkins said the workshop was scheduled intentionally at this point in the year to give residents time to understand the process before major budget decisions are finalized for 2027.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe reason that we are doing it right now, this time of year, is because we had to wait for a lull in the budget director\u2019s schedule,\u201d Hopkins said. \u201cOne thing he\u2019s going to talk about in this presentation is how the budget process works throughout the calendar year.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said that timing allows residents to follow along as the budget develops.<\/p>\n
\u201cThroughout the summer, the budget ad hoc committee, City Council and city staff will be working on developing the budget so that it can be approved in December,\u201d Hopkins said. \u201cThis is a really good time for people to learn how the process works so they can watch it over the next few months.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hopkins said understanding the city budget matters because of how directly it affects residents\u2019 everyday lives.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe city has kind of the most direct impact on your day-to-day life and livability,\u201d she said. \u201cWhere the money that the city spends is going to impact your commute. It\u2019s going to impact your trash pickup and all kinds of things that are directly related to what you experience day to day.\u201d<\/p>\n
The workshop will walk participants through how Charleston\u2019s budget is built, where city revenue comes from, what funds can and cannot be used for as well as when public input has the greatest impact. Attendees will also learn how to read the city budget, identify which departments oversee specific issues and advocate for priorities in their own neighborhoods. On top of that, the session includes a hands-on activity and take-home resources.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re a taxpayer, then you should know what your money is going towards,\u201d Hopkins said. \u201cIf you have an opinion about something the city touches, you should know what the city is doing about it and whether it\u2019s within the city\u2019s jurisdiction.\u201d<\/p>\n
Hopkins said informed participation helps city leaders better respond to community needs.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen people participate in a meaningful way, engaged and informed, it makes it a lot easier for us to make the city a better place to live because we know what people want,\u201d she said. \u201cPart of that is understanding when the best time is to be heard and what jurisdiction applies to the issue they\u2019re advocating around.\u201d<\/p>\n
Key priorities in the 2026 budget include increased compensation for city employees, with a proposed 3% cost-of-living adjustment for approximately 1,900 staff members to help offset rising health care costs and inflation. The budget also emphasizes maintaining city facilities and expanding affordable housing efforts.<\/p>\n
Thursday\u2019s in-person workshop is sold out, but the city plans to post a recorded version on its website. Officials said additional educational sessions are already planned, including a zoning-focused workshop scheduled for April in partnership with the city\u2019s planning department.<\/p>\n
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