Fort Mill's mayor could see a 46% pay raise under an ordinance headed for its first reading Monday, Oct. 12.

Town Manager Cary Vargo presented the proposal to amend Section 2-26 of the town's Code of Ordinances, as first reported by the Tega Cay Sun. The ordinance would set Mayor Guynn Savage's annual salary at $15,425, up from $10,600. Each council member's pay would rise from $7,000 to $10,186.

The raises won't hit right away. South Carolina Code Section 5-7-170 bars salary adjustments for elected officials from taking effect until after the next general election. Savage's seat and three council seats are on the ballot in November 2027, so the new pay scale would begin in January 2028 when winners are sworn in.

Elected officials would also keep the option to participate in the town's health insurance program and the South Carolina State Retirement System, along with reimbursement for official expenses.

Fort Mill's current pay ranks in the middle of the pack regionally. Rock Hill's mayor earns $28,023.84 and its council members earn $17,844.32. York County Council members earn $21,975.30. Tega Cay's mayor earns $6,000 and its council members earn $3,600, according to a Sept. 13 Fort Mill Sun comparison.

The salary discussion comes as the town manages a $74.7 million budget and a population that has grown more than 60% since 2020 to roughly 39,559 residents, with projections pointing toward 52,000.

Council also has a full slate of other business for the Oct. 12 meeting, which begins at 6 p.m. at 205 N. White St. A deferred $2,762,409 budget amendment returns after a council member who missed the Sept. 14 meeting asked for more time to review it, WRHI reported. Chief Financial Officer Eric Davis is set to present a continued discussion on Budget Amendment 26-11, which involves Home Energy Rating System funding.

The agenda also includes a second reading of Ordinance 2026-42, authorizing a short-term lease with Robins & Morton for temporary office space at 123 N. White St., and consideration of Accommodations Tax grant awards for local applicants. Details on the grant recipients and the lease terms were not available in public documents ahead of the meeting.

Residents who want to speak can sign up on a sheet outside Council Chambers at 205 N. White St. before the meeting begins. Each speaker gets three minutes.