Sumter County Council unanimously approves CPST bond authorization and multiple ordinances

Sumter County Council on March 11 unanimously approved Ordinance #25-1018, authorizing general obligation bonds and bond anticipation notes not to exceed $40 million related to the Capital Penny Sales Tax referendum, and completed a series of other routine land-use and administrative measures.

County Attorney Johnathan Bryan presented Ordinance #25-1018 for third reading, noting the ordinance implements the county’s November 5, 2024 ballot question language authorizing a one-percent sales and use tax for up to eight years beginning May 1, 2025, and permitting bond issuance up to $40,000,000 to be paid from those tax proceeds. The ordinance also authorizes the county to engage Burr & Forman LLP as bond, disclosure, and tax counsel, Compass Municipal Advisors, LLC as financial advisor, and AMTEC Corp. as rebate advisor. After a motion by Councilman Artie Baker and a second by Councilwoman Tasha Gardner-Greene, the council voted to grant third reading approval; the motion was recorded as carried unanimously.

The council also approved multiple land-use measures in one session. Zoning Administrator Jeff Derwort presented OA-25-01 (first reading), an amendment to Article 5.b.3.g of the Sumter County Zoning &…