Two County Council approved fees designed to address vital local infrastructure needs — public safety and roads — were recently thrown out by the state’s highest court. Among my constituents, I received not a single complaint about either fee but many people expressed concerns about congested roads and emergency response times. Apparently, most people like seeing their money spent for the specific purposes these uniform fees provide.
In this case, the “telecommunications fee” is already providing hardware, equipment and subscriptions to all public safety agencies in the County allowing these lifesaving groups to directly communicate with each other during emergency events. Before the fee, fire departments, EMS, city agencies and others used grossly outdated systems that jeopardized performance. No more life could be squeezed out of the old system.
As for the $10 added to the road maintenance fee, this was designed to keep abreast of maintaining a growing number of county roads and to leverage other sources of funding to be applied to badly needed congestion relief projects — the number one public demand.
In the 50-plus years since home rule for local governments was constitutionally mandated, counties have been struggling to operate under a system masquerading as “home rule.” Until the Legislature truly allows for home rule, counties and cities will not have local control and be able to provide services and meet the particular needs of the local communities where local officials are closest to the people they represent.
The public would suffer if all local government services are to be procured and provided by the strict definition of a one-dimensional revenue system. Why? Because most County revenue comes from one source — tax on real property. Lumping the full spectrum of county services, programs, infrastructure and capital needs along with operations and administration together with mandated support to state agencies into a one-dimensional system of revenue clouds the apprehension of the value equation. The specificity of the two dedicated fees in this case benefits the ability of citizens to better judge the value received.
Now, please let us work together across the three branches and levels of government to solve this dilemma in order to better provide the vital necessities for the public’s safety, convenience and economic growth.
Butch Kirven, representing Greenville County Council District 27
