[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6546529,"mediaKeyId","3639794-f76418cbaca3d535d6943c2459cbfb88","parentId",3639794,"title","York County Council abolishes recreation tax district, adopts FY26 budget with stipend plan for municipal recreation","audioSeconds",867,"startMs",4555000,"endMs",5422000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639794-f76418cbaca3d535d6943c2459cbfb88&start=4555&end=5422","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639794-f76418cbaca3d535d6943c2459cbfb88/thumbnail_4555000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6546529/York-County/South-Carolina/York-County-Council-abolishes-recreation-tax-district-adopts-FY26-budget-with-stipend-plan-for-municipal-recreation","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546529-4e55507a60f5365bfa954fbc181c3db1/orig.mp4?Expires=1775254674&Signature=iEkHea8SFCtopPHU95L5nb-19d-JZOwwpGVihVRVySpDQWoWIHeEspHepBfZlQ7A8E5RWHFwTcFuTzHo2hiGaDC2oEklDBXE4p~A7gL6Gp7eGPRywkP6yNUTaO6UBm6UvWWq1LaWKjrr3RK4hYFxdsvkDmbdnT-4JWLFJ~F-4kzgRN3qoyuOfZTgo2I~Tktzi89oqA7sGrNHvQQUSaUYPFdL00ubKiiHsBc8uL6eLQXqsVUf29T-ejmiqMZ7msycuPrPwVGx-2~S~Br9clHQngsDlm4AYye3Fv0gNsDw86ooNm8oEEH5bR0p2jyPHnJmSoD60Yv60rRgtavQXIgJfg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","York County SC","date","2025-06-03T03:47:48.03Z","article","York County Council voted 5–2 on June 2 to abolish the York County Recreation Tax District and approved the county\u0000fiscal year 2026 operating budget, a package that includes a proposed stipend program intended to replace some of the tax district\u0000funding to municipalities that run youth recreation programs.

The council\u0000action followed a public hearing and an extended staff presentation. Tom Couch, assistant county manager, summarized the staff\u0000proposal as creating a data-driven, per-participant stipend to reimburse municipalities for unincorporated York County residents who register for municipal youth recreation programs, paired with a modest capital grants program. Couch said the capital program would start at $25,000 annually for small municipalities that have no active recreation programs. County Manager Josh (County Manager) told council the stipends that staff has been discussing would likely fall in the $75-to-$100 range, depending on final decisions, and that staff would work with municipalities to verify registrant data before payments were made.

Why it matters: the recreation tax district has charged only unincorporated property owners for nearly two decades to help fund municipal active-recreation programs. Abolishing the special tax district ends that dedicated millage and replaces it with a model in which the county sends money to municipalities based on counts of county residents participating in municipal programming. The change could shift how municipal programs are funded and how county parks are supported.

Public comments were sharply divided. Some residents urged delay and called for a joint county\u0000municipal task force and more time to negotiate. Jim Bradford, who asked the council to \"continue the existence of this tax district for another year,\" said the county should use a one-year \"grace period\" to form a joint county-municipal working group and audit program data before dissolving the district. William Perkins, a City of York resident, asked council to preserve current funding levels for non-youth facilities such as walking and bike trails, warning that smaller municipalities could lose maintenance funds used for those assets. John Gossett, addressing council in support of the change, said the previous distribution process had been \"haphazard\" and called for data-based allocations.

Staff cautioned that implementing the stipend approach raised several technical issues: how to verify registrants are York County residents, how to treat participants from outside the county who use municipal facilities, and how third-party leagues and program vendors factor into stipend calculations. Couch and the county manager said staff would request registrant address data from municipalities and could execute non-disclosure agreements for that transfer; municipalities told staff some of the necessary participant data are already available.

Council debate reflected divided views. Council members who opposed immediate abolition urged delay and called for a formal task force and more municipal negotiation. Supporters said years of ad-hoc allocations had failed and that the county should move to a transparent, data-driven model even if the plan required adjustments after the first year. Councilmembers repeatedly emphasized that the stipend would be paid to municipalities to offset costs, not distributed as cash directly to families.

Outcome and next steps: Council approved the ordinance to abolish the York County Recreation Tax District on third reading by a 5–2 vote. Council also approved the FY26 operating and capital budgets, which incorporate the staff\u0000framework for the stipend and a modest capital grant program, by a 5–2 vote. Staff said they will continue the municipal discussions, verify registrant data, and return with mechanics for stipend payments prior to implementation. Council asked staff for follow-up reports and indicated willingness to refine stipend levels after the first year of implementation.

Votes at a glance: The ordinance to abolish the York County Recreation Tax District — approved, 5–2. FY26 budget (third reading) — approved, 5–2. Council directed staff to proceed with municipal data verification and to return with implementation details for the stipend and capital grant program.

Ending: Council and staff framed the change as an attempt to move from the previous discretionary funding model toward a reproducible, evidence-based reimbursement structure for municipal recreation. Supporters called it overdue reform; critics urged a slower transition and more municipal negotiation before the county dissolves the existing tax district.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","York County Council Meeting June 2, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","York County Council voted 5–2 on June 2 to abolish the York County Recreation Tax District and approved the county\u0000FY26 operating budget, a package that includes a proposed stipend program intended to replace some of the tax district\u0000funding to municipalities that run youth recreation programs.","taxTitle","York County, South Carolina","taxId",5759,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":46,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6546519,"Votes at a glance: York County Council approves FY26 budget, zoning and code amendments on June 2",3805,1617000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639794-f76418cbaca3d535d6943c2459cbfb88&start=1617&end=5422","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639794-f76418cbaca3d535d6943c2459cbfb88/thumbnail_1617000.jpg","/articles/6546519/York-County/South-Carolina/Votes-at-a-glance-York-County-Council-approves-FY26-budget-zoning-and-code-amendments-on-June-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546519-0ab3b19a2055d5760a4a1b28f835695e/orig.mp4?Expires=1775254674&Signature=nMCrhkYqYXRoMJC4vW-vf~yezKm8lnE3FEfhy1P74JjeUMzV0MmXAb2kRW8LiFQk0JzomvMr01OAMZxOivhzK8BNU1l4ZRgPqjzv4SYLC3z4cZCXCG527QF5uD95CkM2S3IvB2MG0zKuyOggz0EdLkdt0zlFN4WCmLgDIjk4j2jQ9T-aA2nuVIuM--9VK~~hRpcs6SWI9Z2awQnW8bSv1SAMFLZGX6BJwChI70Flju9Ic8WC5wDeYPDPCeN2VaEuwocl4wjPYaaMHgkvFOLo-Ntkl35jTQKMvprxJceRuwr7gH0b8~fmZBuM3FlJ-qTUS5y2uhfA1ULNFKTlZ2a9-g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","This is a compact record of formal actions taken by York County Council during its June 2, 2025 meeting, with outcomes and key details drawn from the meeting transcript. Where the transcript recorded a roll-call tally it is shown; where the vote was by voice, the tally is indicated as recorded.

Key outcomes
- FY26 operating and capital budget (third reading): approved, 5–2. (Ordinance adoption; effective 2025-07-01.)
- Ordinance to abolish the York County Recreation Tax District (third reading): approved, 5–2. (Winding down of the special tax district; effective 2025-12-31.)
- Consent agenda: approved unanimously (voice vote).
- Transportation Corridor Preservation Overlay (TCPO) text amendment to update overlay listing: approved unanimously. Staff recommended the amendment and planning commission recommended approval 6–0.
- Zoning code amendment to allow increased building height for data center use up to 80 feet with additional side/rear setback tradeoffs: approved unanimously; planning commission recommended approval 6–0 with suggested considerations on fire safety and special-exception process.
- Multiple rezonings (first- and second-reading actions on items on the agenda including UD-to-LI, GC-to-RUD, RSF40-to-AGC, etc.): motions to approve carried (unanimous where recorded); planning commission recommendations were consistently 6–0 on these items.
- Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee (ATAX) FY26 funding recommendations: approved (unanimous), total recommended funding and allocations recorded in the ATAX report presented to council.
- Economic Development (ED) code amendment to reconstitute the ED board (change in composition per ordinance): approved (voice vote as amended in meeting).

How the councils recorded votes
- Several items were approved by voice vote with the clerk announcing \"motion carries\" or \"unanimous.\" The transcript records more detailed tallies for higher-profile votes: the FY26 budget and the Recreation Tax District ordinance each carried 5–2.

Notes and follow-ups
- For the abolition of the Recreation Tax District, the council directed staff to coordinate with municipalities to verify registrant data and return with finalized stipend mechanics before payments are made (see staff follow-up assignment). Staff indicated the stipend scenarios being discussed were $75 and $100 per verified unincorporated registrant, and an initial capital grant program of $25,000 annually for small municipalities.
- For the data center height amendment, staff and planning commission urged council to consider fire-safety implications and whether the height allowance should be permitted via a special-exception process instead of a blanket text amendment. Council included that consideration in the discussion.

Full list of formal actions recorded during the meeting (summary)
- Consent agenda: approved (voice vote, unanimous)
- Ordinance amending Chapter 155 (TCPO overlay): approved (voice vote, unanimous)
- Ordinance amending Chapter 155 (data center height allowance to 80 feet with setback tradeoffs): approved (voice vote, unanimous)
- Rezoning Case 25-12 (UD to LI, ~3.8 acres): approved (voice vote, unanimous)
- Rezoning Case 25-13 (GC to RUD, ~0.68 acres): approved (voice vote, unanimous)
- Rezoning Case 25-15 (RSF-40 to AGC, ~10.72 acres): approved (first reading; vote recorded as carried)
- Rezoning Case 25-16 (RSF-40 to AGC, ~14.49 acres): approved (first reading; carried)
- Rezoning Case 25-18 (UD to LI, ~5.73 acres): approved (first reading; carried)
- Abolish York County Recreation Tax District (ordinance, third reading): approved, 5–2
- FY26 Budget adoption (third reading): approved, 5–2
- ATAX FY26 recommendations: approved (unanimous)
- Amendments to county code reconstituting ED board: approved (voice vote)
- Executive-session authorizations (legal counsel waivers and contract direction): authorized (items recorded in executive session; no public roll call detail recorded)

Sources and provenance: The items and tallies above come from the official meeting transcript of the York County Council meeting on June 2, 2025. For the two recorded 5–2 votes (budget and recreation tax district), the meeting transcript includes explicit \"motion carries 5 to 2\" language.

Ending: For items that carry continuing policy or implementation steps (notably the abolished recreation tax district and the FY26 budget), council requested staff reports and follow-up implementation mechanics. For zoning and code text amendments, staff and planning commission recommended additional technical review on fire safety and administrative processes where noted.","A summary of the formal votes taken by York County Council on June 2, 2025: the council approved the FY26 budget and abolished the Recreation Tax District (both 5–2), adopted several zoning and code amendments (mostly unanimous), and approved ATAX recommendations and other agenda items.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6546525,"Residents and engineers urge council to block solar panel manufacturer near schools, citing chemical risks",753,723000,1476000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3639794-f76418cbaca3d535d6943c2459cbfb88&start=723&end=1476","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3639794-f76418cbaca3d535d6943c2459cbfb88/thumbnail_723000.jpg","/articles/6546525/York-County/South-Carolina/Residents-and-engineers-urge-council-to-block-solar-panel-manufacturer-near-schools-citing-chemical-risks","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6546525-0413061e204749ab832fa734b4776998/orig.mp4?Expires=1775254674&Signature=J8ZUy1IR~zNycQ6REl-PHhwGviBka37xTM7-HYLwzplA2jHKd-q917l6yNF8VcDT1R6XNcU7ZQeKLeurETKzMtOyBSQkYyk0rftVeirAMVqmtXmy8m5dcU49mCsZpXgPCdfg-7MfUZUHNrTeVVHvRwxKGD1PWHGHA2HVdVx12k7~cJjggsYQ3a39D352KaAPxlg24iZbTt3tgIq-~tbJu~NN0eVt5nQJJ9QdhFi1M0Am26uVi9b6KfgbYJYUHIN6QOSQ0NJypB~iNvLq0eND1sfE0uwAnlRdokvmYDCHwSdXrj9fNab8Q768Yb~Tu2JUZfi4t01yTZh0JdxvVdAngw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several public commenters at the June 2 York County Council meeting urged elected officials to halt construction and permit activity for a proposed solar panel manufacturing facility (referred to in testimony as Silfab / DILFAB / CILFAB) near Fort Mill-area schools, arguing the proposed use involves hazardous, pyrophoric chemicals and alleged zoning irregularities.

Frank Jernak, a retired engineer with decades of industrial experience, told council he had joined a group concerned about the plant\u0000and said materials used in the manufacture of solar panels include \"pyrophoric\" gases that \"will either spontaneously ignite upon exposure to air\" and hydrofluoric acid, which he described as \"extremely dangerous\" because of its systemic toxicity. Jernak said the site would create risks from both on-site storage and deliveries on public roads.

John Worth, who identified himself as a longtime engineer, said a recent county press release overstated authorities\u0000positions about safety. Worth said federal and state agencies review compliance with emissions and wastewater standards but do not \"guarantee safety,\" and he noted the York County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) had earlier ruled that solar-panel manufacturing is not permitted in a light industrial zone. He said litigation resulted after the county did not implement the BZA ruling.

Alicia Paris told council she represents many Fort Mill residents and described the project as \"a fight for the safety, health, and future of our children and our community.\" Paris said the facility would be located \"just feet from our schools,\" including Flint Hill Middle School, and cited a University of South Carolina risk assessment she said estimated tens of thousands of people could be affected by a chemical release. She told council that the county\u0000in her view\u0000had failed to enforce the BZA decision.

What council heard and did not do: This public forum record shows multiple residents expressed safety and zoning concerns, but the transcript does not record a council vote or staff action taken at the meeting specifically in response to these comments. Council members and staff repeatedly referenced ongoing litigation in the matter during the meeting and several speakers noted that the topic was the subject of pending court action. The county manager reminded the audience that the county had posted statements about litigation and regulatory processes.

Background referenced in testimony: Speakers referenced the York County Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) decision, University of South Carolina (USC) risk analysis, and review processes by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the South Carolina Department of Environmental Services (referred to in testimony as DES). Speakers alleged construction permits were issued after the BZA ruling and criticized county handling of zoning verifications.

Ending: Council did not resolve those public concerns during the meeting. The transcript shows county staff and legal representatives repeatedly noting the matter is in litigation; any regulatory or permitting decisions referenced by residents are but one part of ongoing legal and administrative processes.","During the public forum at the June 2 York County Council meeting, several residents and retired engineers urged council to stop construction of a Silfab (referred to as DILFAB/CILFAB in some testimony) solar panel manufacturing plant near schools, citing potential hazardous chemicals (silane, hydrofluoric acid) and zoning concerns.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

York County Council abolishes recreation tax district, adopts FY26 budget with stipend plan for municipal recreation

Votes at a glance: York County Council approves FY26 budget, zoning and code amendments on June 2

Residents and engineers urge council to block solar panel manufacturer near schools, citing chemical risks