Aiken City Council Meeting November 9, 2026

At its November 9, 2026 meeting, Aiken City Council approved several budget and infrastructure actions. Council unanimously approved a second-reading budget amendment recognizing approximately $3.82 million from the South Carolina Rural Infrastructure Authority for debt costs associated with the water plant, and approved on first reading a further $2,046,844.28 grant for the same purpose. It also unanimously approved a hospitality-tax budget amendment: $830,265 was identified for parking-deck financing, with additional receipts proposed for an entryway maintenance crew. A separate unanimous amendment accounted for proceeds from the $2.5 million sale of Hotel Aiken and related properties, including closing costs and a $750,000 credit for land associated with the parking garage; net proceeds were proposed for the building depreciation and franchise fee funds. Council also approved on first reading an ordinance to adopt updated building codes and revise building-permit fees, effective January 1, 2027; the fees have not been updated since 2018. The city’s proposed 60-mill property-tax rate passed 6–1 after debate about the reassessment rollback and public information on tax impacts.

During public comment, a resident asked the city to work with Dominion Energy to bury power lines in historic-area gateways. The mayor said the city could consider adding the locations to its project list, noting Dominion’s non-standard service fund may cover up to 50% of costs, with the city matching funds, and that undergrounding costs about $1 million per mile. Council unanimously approved consent items that included two annexations and a lease agreement with Aiken Community Theatre and Friends of the Aiken Railroad Depot. No vendor selection or competitive bid award was identified.