Columbia Development News

City Council Reviews FY26-27 Special Revenue Allocations and External Funding Requests

The city council discussed and reviewed allocations for various special revenue sources for the fiscal year 2026-2027, including hospitality tax, accommodations tax, tourism development fee, and liquor permits. Several external funding requests were also presented and deliberated upon, with specific changes and increases noted for various organizations. Discussions involved detailed breakdowns of proposed funding amounts, committee recommendations, and potential adjustments based on available funds and funding source eligibility. The council also considered the depletion of ARPA funding and the implications for future allocations. A significant portion of the discussion focused on specific line-item agencies and committee allocations, with detailed reviews of increased funding for several organizations such as Benedict College, Carolinian Christmas parade, Cola Jazz Foundation, Columbia Township, International Festival, Classical Ballet, First Thursdays, Gemini Arts, Greater Woodlawn Merchants, Growth Collective Inc., South Carolina Brewers Association, High School League, South Carolina Research Foundation, Juneteenth, and Varn International Music.