2008 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
March 20th, 2008 by Julie HarbinPRESENTED TO HORRY COUNTY’S
STATE SENATORS AND REPRESENTATIVES
in Columbia
March 18, 2008
PRIORITY #1: INCREASE STATE AND COUNTY LEGISLATIVE COOPERATION
Horry County P.R.I.D.E. taxpayers want to see state senators and representatives actively meeting, talking, and working with Horry County Council members to enact legislation to benefit Horry County as a whole.
PRIORITY #2: ENABLE HORRY COUNTY TO RAISE NEEDED REVENUE
Horry County taxpayers want to see innovative, effective solutions to infrastructure and natural resource problems. Currently, Council Members have their hands tied as to innovation and effectiveness, and we want to see that changed.
1. REVISE OVERLY RESTRICTIVE SC DEVELOPMENT IMPACT FEE ACT
2. RETURN A HIGHER AMOUNT OF “DONOR COUNTY” FUNDS
PRIORITY #3: INSURE SMART GROWTH
Horry County taxpayers want to see strong, healthy, and sustainable communities, infrastructure, and natural resources.
COMMUNITIES
1. ENACT LEGISLATION THAT PROHIBITS POTENTIALLY TOXIC FACILITIES IN RESIDENTIAL AREAS.
2. ADD HORRY COUNTY ENVIRONMENTAL GROUPS TO CURRENT DHEC AUDIT.
INFRASTRUCTURE
INFRASTRUCTURE
1. REQUIRE THE STATE TO ACCEPT ITS RESPONSIBILITY TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN STATE ROADS AND BRIDGES.
2. BUILD AN EMERGENCY LANE ON SC 501 FROM CONWAY TO MYRTLE BEACH.
NATURAL RESOURCES
1. SUPPORT ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR CONSERVATION BANK
2. SUPPORT WATER WITHDRAWAL PERMITTING (S.428)
PRIORITY #4: PROTECT HOME RULE
Horry County taxpayers do not want to see any weakening of home rule (S.1105).
May 16th, 2008 at 5:57 pm
I am curious about the “overly restrictive SC development impact fee act. ” I assume it restricts the county from collecting impact fees from developers. However I would like to know more about the restrictions.
June 15th, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Gail, SC’s Impact Fee law was written by the SC Realtors Assn. who are adamantly opposed to impact fees . They oppose anything that will increase the cost of housing. Consequently, the SC law they wrote makes it difficult, expensive, and time consuming to impose and administer impact fees.
1. Before imposing impact fees, each county has to pay for a professional study to determine appropriate fees, a housing affordability analysis of effect on availability of affordable housing, a fiscal or transportation impact study/analysis, develop a capital improvements plan, and pass an Impact Fee Ordinance.
3. Impact fees can only be used for capital improvements with a useful life of 5 years or more.
4. Capital equipment and vehicles purchased must have a purchase price of not less than $100,000.
5. Impact fees may be used for water, solid waste, transportation, storm water, parks and recreation, libraries, fire/ems, and law enforcement.
6. Impact fees may NOT be used for schools (the largest infrastructure expense) or operational expenses.
The above is a quick summary of the limitations. More information can be found at www.giac2002.org.
Thanks for asking.
Julie