Council puts one-cent 'Penny for Progress' sales tax on November ballot, adopts $107 million project list

Sumter County Council voted unanimously on June 28 to adopt Ordinance #22-976, ordering a countywide referendum on imposing a one-percent sales and use tax for no more than seven years and authorizing up to $40,000,000 in general obligation bonds (bond anticipation note) as part of a financing plan.

County Administrator Gary Mixon presented the ordinance and said it includes a $107,266,500 project list and described a financing package that, with the proposed bond, would provide $117,266,500 to accomplish the listed projects. He told Council that clerical errors had been identified and corrected prior to adoption.

Mixon also outlined the timeline for referendum preparation: by mid‑July the referendum question will be submitted to the Election Commission for placement on the November ballot; on Aug. 10 he will meet with the Chamber of Commerce to seek endorsement; mid‑August a brochure summarizing projects will be prepared and distributed; and active outreach is expected to begin in mid‑September. Councilman Baker moved and Councilman Edens seconded; the motion to grant third reading and adopt the ordinance carried unanimously.

The ordinance directs staff to take the administrative steps necessary to place the sales tax question before voters and to proceed with the preparatory public information campaign. If approved by referendum, Council authorized subsequent action to issue the bonds described in the ordinance.