Did you know that there are 271 cities in South Carolina? Ranging in population from Charleston’s 150,000+ to Smyrna’s 45, our cities are home to nearly 2 million of our state’s residents.

Each year city leaders from across the state gather at the SC State House for the Municipal Association of SC’s Hometown Legislative Action Day (HLAD). It’s an opportunity for mayors, city council members, and city administrators/managers to meet directly with their state legislators, dive into policy issues facing cities, and share ideas amongst each other.

I’ve attended every year since taking office because I think it’s vital that Fountain Inn’s voice be heard in Columbia and it’s also important that, as Mayor, I have a firm understanding of how legislative decisions at the state house impact our hometown.

Additionally, this year I have the pleasure of serving as President of the Association of SC Mayors and this annual event offers one of a handful of opportunities for our association to gather.

So, what’s going on in Columbia that could impact cities like Fountain Inn? Here are three highlights from this year’s conference.

1) DOT Reform Proposals

Over the summer and fall, the House DOT Modernization Ad Hoc Committee hosted public hearings across the state on what can be done to modernize our state’s transportation agency. Their work has resulted in a proposed bill, H.5071, that proposes a lot of changes in the underlying state codes that govern much of how DOT operates.

One major highlight for cities and counties is a proposed “devolution” program - the process of transferring ownership of a road from the state to a local government. A $25M pilot is likely to be included in the upcoming state budget to assist in repairing roads prior to being transferred, but cities and counties will have a lot to consider as this program grows - with ownership comes the responsibility of maintenance, which requires people, equipment, and funding at the local level.

2) Election Changes

While not impacting Fountain Inn, there are proposed changes in how, and more importantly when, cities can hold their elections. Currently cities have some pretty broad latitude on when their elections are held. A proposed bill will provide more limited options in an effort to streamline elections across the state.

3) Understanding Process

During the Mayors Forum, mayors heard from Clerk of the House, Charles Reid. Charles has an extremely important job in our state - managing the operation of the House floor, serving as Parliamentarian of the House, and serving as “COO” essentially of the SC House. While not elected by the public (but elected by members of the House), the Clerk is vital to how laws are passed in this state.

One important takeaway from our discussion with Mr. Reid was the importance of understanding “the process”. Whether it’s the House or City Council - making sure you understand the process behind the decisions being made is vital to being effective in government. First, most of our processes in government are required by law - they are processes you must follow, whether you like it or not. Second, especially for Mayors who tend to be in charge of running City Council meetings, knowing the process helps facilitate civil discourse and ensures clarity on what exactly is being decided upon. And lastly, understanding the processes behind government decisions helps make sure you can advocate for your perspective at the right time and in the right way. 

I look forward to monitoring these issues, and staying curious on how these issues are decided, so that Fountain Inn’s voice can be heard in Columbia.

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