Tega Cay council approves up to $35,000 for additional deer culling under SCDNR permit

Tega Cay City Council on Jan. 21 authorized up to $35,000 from contingency funds to pay for additional deer culling under a South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) permit that allows the city to remove up to 80 deer.

The funding motion, made during new-business deliberations, followed extended council discussion about the cost and long-term strategy of the city's wildlife management program. City Manager Charlie told council staff had applied for and received the SCDNR permit that would allow culling up to an additional 80 deer. Councilmember Brian (surname not specified) and others said the expense is intended to produce measurable short-term reductions in the deer population that, together with earlier sterilization efforts, aim to reduce long-term population growth and property damage.

Several council members expressed reluctance about additional spending. “I myself am under the opinion that we have spent enough money on the deer this year,” Councilman Scott Shirley said. Mayor Pro Tem Carmen Miller and others described high prior expenditures for sterilization and emphasized the program's multi-year horizon. City staff and consultants presented population figures showing a very high historic deer density in Tega Cay, and proponents argued that the additional culling would meaningfully reduce the local population relative to the city's acreage.

Council moved the funding from contingency; a voice vote carried the motion, with meeting audio recording both affirmative and at least one negative response. No numeric roll-call was read into the record at the time of the vote.

Council directed staff to proceed with culling under the SCDNR permit and to report back on results and expenditures.