Efforts to reform county government gained traction in 2017
January 4, 2018
By Ned Tolar
Lexington County Council
With 2018 under way, I wanted to keep you informed about some County Council actions over the past year, as well as some of my efforts on your behalf:
1. Making the case for reform. Over the past three years, I’ve pursued a number of reforms to improve the way county government operates. This year I formed an alliance with three other reform-minded Council members – Erin Long Bergeson, Darrell Hudson and Phil Yarborough — to push for greater efficiency and accountability, smarter fiscal policy and proper long-range planning.
One of our goals is reducing the burden on taxpayers by finding new ways to fund needed services and infrastructure. My own proposals include implementing impact fees on new development and eliminating needless tax exemptions and abatements.
Our four-member Reform Alliance is a minority on the nine-member Council, so our efforts are often rebuffed by the council majority. But we’ve made important headway, and plan to continue to make the case for these good-government reforms in 2018.
2. Standing up for taxpayers. In June, County Council adopted a $167 million budget and a small tax increase – about $3 for a $200,000 home. After careful consideration — and after asking a lot of questions — I voted against this budget. I felt a “no” vote was in the interest of the taxpayers I serve because the plan included too many items which were either duplicative or had no clear benefit to our county (such as money for the convention center and museum in downtown Columbia.) However, the budget and tax hike passed by 6-3 vote.
3. Opposing the Cayce tax deal. Special tax deals — such as tax abatements and exemptions — mean ordinary taxpayers must fork over than our fair share. We need to expand our tax base, not narrow it.
That’s why I worked with a group that successfully spearheaded opposition to a special “tax increment financing,” or TIF, deal which would have given the City of Cayce a windfall at the expense of taxpayers throughout the county. Had it passed, the tax deal would have let Cayce keep about $19 million in property taxes from its riverfront district — while the rest of us pay ever-increasing taxes into the county’s general fund.
4. Growth planning and infrastructure. I’ve consistently advocated impact fees as a way to address our infrastructure challenges without overburdening the taxpayers. The idea is that new development could help pay for infrastructure needed to handle the growth it causes.
In October, I helped lead a push to conduct a feasibility study for an impact fee in the Corley Mill Road area. Unfortunately, the Council majority opposed the study. But the good news is that three other Council members supported it — which means the idea gaining traction.
5. Opposing the I-20/I-26 bypass. I worked with other local officials and neighbors like yourself to prevent construction of an interstate bypass through the West Columbia area. Such a route, which was one of 49 possibilities for alleviating traffic at “Malfunction Junction,” would have been devastating to our community.
To be clear, DOT officials had always assured me that this option was a non-starter. Nonetheless, our community chose not to take a chance. Thanks to everyone who attended meetings and otherwise spoke out against the bypass (and to those who helped me distribute fliers!) In September, DOT eliminated this option from consideration.
6. A ‘no-kill’ policy for cats. By 6-3 vote, County Council adopted a “no-kill” policy for stray cats which went into effect October 1. I voted in favor. Homeless cats caught by animal control officers will now be spayed or neutered.
Thank you for the honor of serving you. I’m optimistic that 2018 will bring success as we work toward the changes needed to make county government work better for all of us.
