Building Relationships Vital to Rebuilding Counties After Hurricane Helene Damage | |
Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm on the evening of Sept. 26, 2024. Within 72 hours, the federal government declared a major disaster for more than half the counties in South Carolina.
Unlike typical hurricane and tropical storm incidents, coastal counties came away mostly unscathed with minimal damage. Counties in the northwest of the state, however, were severely impacted. And many did not have the resources they needed to manage hurricane damage. At least not alone.
Read how counties worked together to rebuild after Hurricane Helene in the upcoming issue of County Focus magazine.
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McCormick County Honors Mims' Legacy of Building Community & Promoting Education | |
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McCormick County Council representatives were joined by members of the community on a chilly December morning to honor the legacy of Dr. William Samuel Mims with the opening of the W.S. Mims Activity Center.
County Council Chairman Charles Jennings did the honors Dec. 19 and cut the ribbon on the new activity center, invoking Mims’ lifelong motto, “Good, better, best, but never let it rest until good is better and better is best.”
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SCAC Scholarship Deadline is Feb. 1, 2025 | |
High school seniors in 13 counties can now apply for one-time college scholarships to be awarded in 2025.
Each year, SCAC's Presidential Scholarship Program awards one $5,000 scholarship to a graduating high school senior who is a resident of the same county as the SCAC President. The 2025 Presidential Scholarship will be awarded to an Allendale County resident in honor of SCAC President and Allendale County Council Vice Chairman William E. Robinson.
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A graduating senior from each of the following counties will be selected to receive a $5,000 Board of Director's scholarship: Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Beaufort, Charleston, Chester, Edgefield, Hampton, Lee, Sumter, Union, York. Learn more about how to apply via our scholarships page. | |
Legislative Policy Positions Available Online | |
SCAC's 2025 Legislative Policy Positions publication is now available online.
The report reflects positions of the Association on issues identified by members and adopted by the Legislative Committee. The policy positions fall into 1 of 4 categories:
- County Government and Intergovernmental Relations
- Land Use, Natural Resources and Transportation
- Public Safety, Corrections and Judicial
- Revenue, Finance and Economic Development
Check out our brief overview of some of the key anticipated issues this session.
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New Publications Available Online | |
Check out the latest editions of two important reference materials for county governments online now.
The 2024 South Carolina Property Tax Rates by County details every jurisdiction that levies property taxes in the state. SCAC appreciates the contributions of county auditors from each of the 46 counties.
The 2024 edition of the Home Rule Handbook is a comprehensive document that includes code sections applying to all forms of county government along with editor’s notes that summarize, offer background and interpretation on complex sections. Case notes and Attorney General’s opinions also share further insights to assist the reader with interpretation. This edition replaces the 2013 Home Rule Handbook.
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Registration Open for Counties Connect 2025 and Institute of Government | |
The South Carolina Association of Counties (SCAC) will host Counties Connect: A Legislative Action Day on Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025, at the Pastides Alumni Center at USC in downtown Columbia. This event provides an excellent opportunity for county leaders to connect with their local delegation members to advocate for their counties. All county officials are encouraged to participate.
County officials will have a chance to engage with their legislators during the Counties Connect Legislative Reception that evening at The Palmetto Club.
Institute of Government for County Officials classes, including the Council Chairperson's Workshop will be offered in conjunction with Counties Connect on Thursday, Feb. 20. The Institute is designed to provide the opportunity for county officials to enhance their skills and abilities to function effectively as elected officials.
The registration deadline for all events is Tuesday, Feb. 12.
The deadline to register for a hotel at the special conference rate is Jan. 27.
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Registration is Open for Orientation for Newly Elected Countywide Officials | |
Orientation for newly elected countywide officials will take place 10 a.m.-4:30p.m. Tuesday, March 11, at the DoubleTree by Hilton in Columbia. Registration is now open and is free for those who have recently been elected to serve as county auditor, treasurer, clerk of court, coroner, probate judge, register of deeds or sheriff.
The session is designed to provide an overview of the roles and responsibilities of county officials and of SCAC's programs and services.
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Participants will have the opportunity to learn about the forms and powers of county government, the state ethics act, budget basics and funding sources, how a bill becomes a law and strategies for building relationships with county council and county administration.
Participants who complete the daylong orientation will receive six credit hours toward their Level I certification in the Institute of Government for County Officials.
Registration is required, and the deadline to register is March 3.
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Clean Water Project Funding Call This Month | |
Funding is available through the State Revolving Fund for clean water and drinking water infrastructure projects, including dedicated funding for emerging contaminants and lead service line replacements. To get updates for the upcoming funding cycle, join the 2025 Call for Projects Webinar at 10 a.m. Jan. 29.
The program provides financial assistance through low-interest loans and principal forgiveness funding for the planning, design and construction of clean water and drinking water infrastructure projects. The program is run by the SC Department of Health Environmental Services (SCDES) and the SC Rural Infrastructure Authority (RIA).
For more information and to register to receive the Teams link for the webinar, visit the SCDES website.
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🗞️ The Friday Report is back! Tuesday marked the beginning of the S.C. General Assembly's 126th Legislative Session, and we've got a breakdown of the more than 400 new bills introduced relevant to counties. Check out this week's Friday Report!
🔗https://conta.cc/4alTc8B
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At SCAC we take our work advocating for counties seriously, but we know how to have fun too! Here's our staff's menagerie for National Dress Up Your Pet Day. 🐈⬛🐕
Finn says with his tie on, he's ready to join our legislative team at the State House for the new session starting this week!
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Are you ready for the 2025 legislative session? Now it's easier to know what's happening at the South Carolina State House! ⏰🏛️
Download the SC Legislature app 👉 iOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/sc-legislature/id1294829381 Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=gov.scstatehouse.app
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(803) 252-7255
PO Box 8207
Columbia SC 29202-8207
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