Council flags annexation pressure, fire district strain and Greenville Water representation

Greenville County councilors spent significant time at the committee-of-the-whole meeting discussing the effects of municipal annexation on county services, especially fire districts, and raising governance questions about Greenville Water.

Several councilors described recent large annexations by neighboring municipalities and expressed worry that annexation shrinks tax bases for fire districts, leading to higher millage rates for remaining residents and potential inability to maintain ISO ratings. One councilor said municipalities can 'gobble up land' and leave fire districts with far fewer residents to tax, which could force district closures over time.

Dr. Fan told colleagues that many county residents rely on Greenville Water service but lack representation on the water commission, saying, "People in the county outnumber people in the city of Greenville 5 to one, but they have no representation on the water commission." The administrator replied that the city purchased Greenville Water in 1918 and noted prior court challenges to related practices had been unsuccessful.

Councilors discussed policy tools that could mitigate annexation impacts, including boundary-control mechanisms, urban-growth boundaries, and potential county resolutions to the state legislative delegation seeking reform of 'shoestring' annexation practices. A councilor said a resolution removing '100% annexation' from state law would be ready if the legislature considers changes.

No formal votes were taken on annexation policy; councilors agreed to pursue a study, asked staff to draft a resolution for the delegation, and suggested the RIP committee consider ordinance options to support affected fire districts when the staff study is completed.

The committee adjourned after directing staff and committees to return with proposals and legal clarifications.