The City of Cayce’s Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Plan for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 is $19,807,548

• The budget includes:
• Increase of 3.0 mils, which will increase tax revenues by $220,199
• No increase in sanitation fees
• No change in the Utility Fund Indirect Cost Transfer of $2,150,000.
• No transfer from unassigned fund balance
• A conservative estimate of Accommodations Taxes
• $200,000 lease-purchase for four replacement vehicles, including one Police Investigations vehicle and three Police Patrol vehicles.  

Cayce District 2 Councilman Byron Thomas said the budget does not put undue stress and the residents of Cayce. 

“Last year, I emphasized the need for gradual increases to avoid burdening residents, particularly those on fixed incomes and those who live paycheck to paycheck,” Thomas said. “I’m proud to say that City Administrator Jim Crosland and our city staff made that vision a reality. Unlike previous proposals for steep tax hikes and utility rate increases, this year’s budget includes a modest 4-mill property tax increase and a 3% utility rate adjustment—totaling less than $4 more per month for the average household. With this adjustment, we’re able to provide pay raises for our City employees and invest in crucial capital projects. We were also able to offer a financial incentive for staff that live in Cayce.”

District 3 Councilman Hunter Sox said the process of writing the budget was open. He also said he paid close attention as the budget was written. 

“This year, we delivered one of the most open and transparent budget processes Cayce has seen, thanks to Jim, Kelly, our staff, and the new OpenGov system that allowed Council and citizens to follow every detail. As I did last year,” said Sox. “I went through the budget line by line to eliminate waste and ensure every dollar is used responsibly. That disciplined approach puts us in a strong financial position to invest in key priorities for our residents. Now, we have the opportunity to build on this strong foundation, strengthen our economy, and ensure taxpayers see real returns through smart investments that grow our city’s future.”

The City of Caye’s Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Utilities Fund Budget is $43,969,507 and includes the following:

• A 3% increase in water and sewer rates (both inside and outside City)
• A transfer of $905,655 from the City’s Wastewater Renewal & Replacement reserve fund for projects associated with the Capital Improvement Plan
• No transfer from unassigned fund balance

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