Sumter County Council votes 5-2 to send 1% capital projects sales tax referendum to voters
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Summary
Sumter County Council adopted Ordinance 24-1004 in a 5–2 vote to place a one percent Capital Projects Sales Tax on the November ballot, authorizing up to $40 million in bonds if voters approve the measure for up to eight years. Council debate focused on prior project reporting and procedural rules for the chair.
Sumter County Council voted 5–2 Tuesday to adopt Ordinance 24-1004, sending a one percent Capital Projects Sales Tax referendum to Sumter County voters in November and authorizing the potential issuance of up to $40 million in general obligation bonds if the measure passes.
The measure, presented at third reading, would impose the tax for no more than eight years and specifies projects and a maximum bond amount. Vice Chairman James R. Byrd moved the motion to adopt and Councilman Charles T. Edens seconded; Councilmembers Artie Baker, Byrd, James T. McCain, Jr., Edens and Vivian Fleming McGhaney voted in favor. Councilmembers Carlton B. Washington and Eugene R. Baten opposed the ordinance.
The debate included a procedural exchange over whether the chairman may participate in debate while presiding. Councilman Carlton B. Washington cited Robert’s Rules of Order (43:29) to argue the presiding officer should not participate without relinquishing the chair. County Attorney Johnathan Bryan advised the council that, as a small board, different guidance in Robert’s Rules (4:31) applies; Bryan said that practice allows the presiding officer greater latitude. Washington pressed the point publicly during discussion and said he would not support placing the referendum on the ballot.
Washington also raised substantive concerns about accountability for earlier capital-project lists, saying he had not seen completion reports for projects from prior sales-tax commissions and warning that if projected revenues fall short, the council must determine which projects would go unfunded. "I will not be supporting the Capital Project Sales Tax Commission Referendum... until this Council comes back and supports issues that involve basic services and taking care of people," Washington said.
County Administrator Gary Mixon responded that some funds from prior sales-tax programs are held in interest-bearing accounts and that several outstanding items are multi-year South Carolina Department of Transportation projects that should wrap up this year or next. Mixon did not provide a consolidated completion report at the meeting but said staff would continue follow-up on project status and reporting.
The ordinance’s adoption is procedural only: the council’s vote places the question on the ballot; final funding depends on voter approval in November. The council did not adopt additional contingency language on project prioritization at Tuesday’s meeting.