City of Mauldin to host community forum on proposed 1% sales tax ahead of November vote

Mauldin residents and local business owners will have an opportunity to hear directly from municipal leaders and examine a proposed penny sales tax during a public community forum scheduled for later this month.

The informational session will take place on Thursday, September 24, from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. at Mauldin City Hall, located at 5 E. Butler Road.

The meeting comes as the city prepares for a November 3 ballot referendum that will ask voters whether to enact a temporary 1% municipal sales and use tax under South Carolina’s Municipal Tax Relief Act. If approved, the measure would take effect May 1, 2027, for a maximum duration of eight years.

Organized as a moderator-led panel, the forum will explain how the tax would operate, detail the capital improvement projects it would fund, and field questions from the audience. The discussion will be moderated by Assistant City Administrator Gregory Saxton, with featured panelists including Mayor Pro Tem Taft Matney, City Administrator Seth Duncan, Fire Chief Brian McHone, and Public Works Director Matthew Fleahman.

A central focus of the initiative is direct property tax relief for local homeowners. Under state statute, municipalities utilizing the Act must allocate a portion of revenues toward property tax credits on owner-occupied residences within city limits. City projections estimate approximately $4.9 million in homeowner relief over the eight-year period, alongside roughly $19.6 million dedicated to capital infrastructure—including $15.6 million for roadway repaving, curbs, drainage, and sidewalks, and $4 million toward the construction of Fire Station 5.

Everyday necessities—such as groceries, motor fuel, utilities, rent, mortgages, and prescription medication—are legally exempt from the penny tax, which applies only to retail goods, prepared restaurant meals, and other discretionary purchases made within city limits.

The Greater Mauldin Chamber of Commerce and city officials are urging residents and merchant operators to attend the session to better understand how the proposal would affect household finances and commercial activity.

Additional informational events are scheduled ahead of the November election, including a Facebook Live Q&A on Thursday, October 8, at 3:30 p.m., followed by a second in-person forum focused on the new fire station on Tuesday, October 20, at Mauldin Fire Department Headquarters.

To review the full list of infrastructure projects or submit questions in advance of the forum, visit the city’s project portal at cityofmauldin.org/municipal-tax-relief-act(opens in new tab).