The South Carolina
Association of Counties hereby affirms its constitutional premise as stated in Article I,
Section 2, that, "The purpose of the organization shall be to promote more efficient
county government; to study, discuss and recommend improvements in government; to
investigate and provide means for the exchange of ideas and experiences between county
officers; to promote and encourage education of county officials; to collect, analyze and
distribute information about county government; to cooperate with other organizations; and
to promote legislation to effect more efficient administration of local government in the
State of South Carolina."
The Association
believes that counties cannot exist in isolation because their futures are intertwined. We
realize that, as the saying goes, "Together we stand, divided we fall." Our
problems are largely the same: if they are to be solved quickly and effectively, all
counties must band together to work for the common good. Many common problems exist among
South Carolina's 46 counties, and to solve these problems, cooperation is necessary.
The South Carolina
Association of Counties establishes as a principle the goal of providing control of
essential services at the level of government most capable of delivering them. Counties
cannot be effective partners with the state and federal governments if their primary
revenue source, the property tax, is eliminated or further eroded without replacement with
revenue sources that are secure and predictable. Any restructuring of responsibilities
should be coupled with a restructuring of revenue sources for counties so that the revenue
sources are reflective of the economy in the same proportion as those of the state.
The Association
believes strongly in maximum local authority consistent with attainment of statewide
objectives. County officials recognize their responsibilities to carry out policies
formulated by the General Assembly. At the same time, state policy makers should recognize
the limitations of the county revenue base and the need for the state to provide the
revenue necessary to implement the increasing number of mandates.
We believe that joint
cooperative action between county school board members and county council members is
essential to the successful delivery of good public education. Comprehensive and efficient
human services, including social services, health and mental health programs, are
essential to the well-being of our society. These services must be clearly defined and
adequately funded. State mandated services delivered at the county level should be
financed from state revenue sources in order for every citizen of South Carolina to
receive a substantially similar degree of service.
The South Carolina
Association of Counties has traditionally maintained that its efforts should not be
utilized on behalf of individual counties seeking legislative remedy for problems not
statewide in nature. The Association staff will direct its efforts toward the support of
sound legislation beneficial to the administration of all counties' affairs, and to the
opposition of legislation detrimental to counties.
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