Public update on CPST collection rates on tap at County Council meeting
The Greenwood County Council will, for the first time since its inception in May 2017, get an update on collection rates tied to the 2016 capital projects sales tax initiative.
The Tuesday presentation follows the Index-Journal dedicating nearly 6,000 words on how 10 of 27 projects might be imperiled after county leaders warned that revenue estimates could come up as much as $20 million short from the $87.9 million figure included on November 2016 ballots.
Listed on the council’s agenda as a “quarterly capital projects sales tax update,” it comes after the newspaper in an editorial called for better communication between county leaders and voters on the issue.
“While the eight-year collection period is six years out and the outlook could change for the better, we and many others were scratching their heads after the Aug. 28 announcement and subsequent story that spelled out in more detail how far off the figures seem to be. OK, maybe $1 million or even $2 million, but as much as $20 million? Fuzzy math? Pie-in-the-sky get the votes math? It’s easy to see why many residents are cynical about the matter, especially given how the potential revenue shortfall was unceremoniously rolled out,” the Sept. 8 editorial said.
“County taxpayers and voters might feel a little less chapped about it all had there been a more public revelation and explanation of the situation. It would have been a good idea for the county manager, Toby Chappell, and the CPST projects manager, Josh Skinner, to make a formal presentation before County Council. In public session.”
Since June 30, 2013, the county has posted quarterly reports on capital project and sales tax expenditures from its first round of collections, with the most recent from June 30, 2018.
That’s because nearly half of the money — $21.2 million — remains unspent as local officials continue to negotiate with federal regulators over design parameters for the Buzzard Roost spillway.
The statements are available publicly at greenwoodcounty-sc.gov under the treasurer’s department.
But absent from that page is any data about expenditures or collections from the 2016 assessment, which took effect on May 1, 2017.
Also on Tuesday, County Engineer Rob Russian is set to brief the council on the status of that Buzzard Roost project.
In early December, Chappell and Russian spent two days huddling with a Board of Consultants and FERC representatives to go over specs for a project that was nearly ready to launch, until federal regulators put the brakes on at the last minute.
In January 2017, the County Council learned FERC would not approve plans to build the contraption — known as a fuse plug — until local leaders either took part in the agency’s Risk Informed Decision Making process or convened another consultants’ board to evaluate the proposal for a second time since March 2012.
Russian said in January a preferred design came out of those talks — but several more rounds of negotiations will be needed until work can finally begin.
Originally Published by Index-Journal on: sep 16, 2019
By ADAM BENSON abenson@indexjournal.com