Myrtle Beach Authorities Approve Budget With Increased Spending and New Projects. The Myrtle Beach City Council has approved the 2027 budget, reflecting a 6.5% increase. Plans include salary raises, new facilities, and adjustments to tax benefits. The changes will affect utilities and infrastructure.
The Myrtle Beach budget for fiscal year 2027 has been approved—the city council sanctioned an amount of $384 million, which is 6.5% more than the previous year. The decision was made at Tuesday’s meeting, with the new fiscal year beginning on July 1. The main changes will affect employee salaries, infrastructure projects, and adjustments to tax benefits for residents.
According to WMBF, the city maintains a stable financial position: the reserve fund exceeds $40 million. This enables Myrtle Beach to be prepared for possible economic or natural shocks that could impact municipal revenues.
The new budget does not include an increase in the business license fee. However, residents will see minor adjustments to rates for garbage collection, water supply, and sewer services—on average less than $7 per household per month. At the same time, authorities have budgeted a 3% pay raise for police officers, firefighters, and all full-time city employees.
Among major expenditures are $26 million for the construction of the new Fire Station No.1, $1.35 million for stormwater system upgrades, $6.2 million for road and sidewalk repairs, and $746,000 for updating the John T. Rhodes Myrtle Beach Sports Center. Plans also include completing the police vehicle program and creating new crews for road maintenance and landscaping.
An important change will affect the tax benefit for property owners: the loan from the Tourism Development Fund will be reduced from 67.45% to 53.4%. The authorities explain this as a necessary measure to balance the fund and reallocate resources to the city's priority projects.
For reference: Myrtle Beach is one of the largest tourist centers in South Carolina, where municipal revenues largely depend on tourism and seasonal inflows. In recent years, the city has been actively investing in infrastructure upgrades and enhancing its appeal for residents and visitors. According to municipal data, such measures help maintain stability and develop the urban environment even in the face of external challenges.
