We will readily admit we are not the best mathematicians, but let’s do a little math anyway.
In 2016, the voters of Greenwood County cast a majority “yes” vote in support of a penny sales tax. The tax, called a Capital Project Sales Tax, was touted as having the potential of raising $87,938,185 for 27 detailed and specific projects throughout the county. The tax is to remain in place for eight years, unless the $87.9 million is collected in less time. But it must sunset in eight years and cannot remain in place until the $87.9 is raised.
Got that?
The tax has been collected for two years now, but is being projected to fall short of the anticipated/calculated/projected $87.9 million. That revelation was made during the Aug. 28 State of the City and County Address hosted by the Greenwood SC Chamber.
How short? That’s a question the newspaper wanted to know. We figured voters and taxpayers might also want to know. Moreover, we figured voters and taxpayers might well be interested in finding out which of the 27 projects might not come to be realized as a result of a shortfall in tax collections.
So, what did we do? We asked the folks in county government who are supposed to be able to answer these questions.
The answer we got apparently is the same answer some of the folks whose projects are on – excuse us, potentially on – the cutting room floor. Those folks received a letter on Greenwood County letterhead from the capital projects sales tax coordinator’s office. It clearly points out the need for recalculating projections:
”According to state law, Greenwood County can collect the 1% capital projects sales tax for a maximum of 8 years, or until we reach $87,938,185 in revenue. Based on our quarterly average, we are projecting to collect $67,902,834 at the end of our eight year time limit.”
Here’s where some of the math we mentioned comes in handy, and we are using the numbers straight from the letter that went out to the project “stakeholders.”
$87,938,185 — $67,902,834 = $20,035,351.
Now, best we can tell that lines up with the $20 million potential shortfall we were quoted when we sought clarification and details on the Aug. 28 revelation. And that explains why we used “$20 million” in subsequent story headlines. Hey, remember what we said. We are not all that good at math, so we used the figures given to us by those in the know as we attempted to tell the rest of the residents who we think might also want to be more in the know.
OK, let’s look at some more math, based on more of what was contained in the letter that was sent to the stakeholders of projects that likely will not get done. At least not yet.
”As you may recall, the 2016 referendum for the Capital Project Sales Tax listed 27 projects in order along with the amount of money allocated for each project. Also per state law, these projects have to be funded in the order they are listed on the ballot. Based on our total projected funding of $67,902,834, Greenwood County will only be able to fund through project 17 on the list. Unfortunately, Projects 18-27 on the list are not likely to be funded in this round of the Capital Projects Sales Tax.”
The letter then lists those potentially ill-fated projects:
• $3,397,273 for the rehabilitation of Katherine Hall in Ware Shoals
• $429,939 for the repair and maintenance of the Greenwood County Detention Center
• $208,998 for the purchase of a case management system for the 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office
• $358,283 for the installation of fiber optic cable and related equipment on the campus of the Greenwood Genetic Center
• $2,447,774 for the construction of the Carolina Avenue Connector, a new road with related infrastructure between South Main Street and the campus of the Greenwood Genetic Center on Liner Circle in Greenwood
• $685,987 for the renovation of the Arts Center at the Federal Building in Greenwood, including but not limited to the replacement of the roof and certain flooring, and painting of the exterior
• $1,221,806 for the construction of an exhibition hall replicating the former Southern Passenger Depot for the Railroad Historical Center
• $1,468,664 for the purchase of a platform fire truck and related equipment for the City of Greenwood Fire Department
• $1,223,887 for the placement of lines for water service and fire suppression in the area of Harris Landing
• $4,895,548 for the placement of lines for water services and fire suppression in the area of Highway 25 South
Now add those figures up and you will get $16,338,159. Of course, that’s not $20 million, but again, we were told the same thing those stakeholders were told in the letter. We refer you to the earlier math that shows the county anticipating as much as a $20 million shortfall.
Yet, somehow, the Index-Journal is made out to look like bad guys in this tale, according to some county officials and council members. The shortfall wasn’t revealed publicly until it was brought up to about 200 people attending the Aug. 28 State of the City and County Address. We did what we should in asking questions and seeking more details. We shared those details in an extensive special report published Sept. 8.
And up until County Council met Tuesday, no one in county government contacted us about our reporting, and certainly not to say it was inaccurate. Instead, Toby Chappell, county manager, in giving a CPST update to council, said “The number $20 million has been thrown around in the media recently. Is it possible that the 2016 capital project sales tax will be $20 million short in 2025? The short answer is yes. However, it’s also possible that you win the South Carolina Powerball at 1 in 292 million odds, and it’s possible that FERC may approve our fuse plug issue, but it’s not likely.”
While we all still give a damn about the dam at Buzzard Roost, Chappell might have hit on a good idea. Perhaps county officials should, with their own money, buy Powerball tickets and, if they win, make a magnanimous gesture by donating whatever the shortfall winds up being.
We were also more than a bit disappointed by Councilman Chuck Moates’ response, following Chappell’s report to council Tuesday.
“To anyone who can read and hear logic, this makes perfectly good sense, and it’s a shame that we’ve had to deal with this turmoil, but I appreciate you addressing it in such a professional and dignified manner and I hope it will be reported as such,” he said.
We can only take that to imply that the newspaper, in trying to inform taxpayers, voters — who we rank as stakeholders in this — created turmoil. And we take it to imply our process of coverage is deemed both unprofessional and undignified.
This is particularly disappointing, considering what Moates had to say at an August County Council meeting only days after this newspaper’s former publisher and president, Judi Burns, died.
“As a champion of the freedom of the press, she stood up against partisan forces that would hinder the right of the public to know what was going on in local government,” Moates said. “At a time in our society when powerful governmental leaders are prone to denigrate the press, spreading false and malicious rumors, undermining the public’s trust in the Fourth Estate by labeling accurate reporting as ‘fake facts,’ Judi Burns stood fervently up and defended the role of journalism to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. … As a champion of the freedom of the press, she stood up against partisan forces that would hinder the right of the public to know what was going on in local government.”
And that, readers, taxpayers, voters and stakeholders, is precisely what we have continued to do in covering the CPST issue.
Originally Published by Index-Journal on:Sep 22, 2019
Article Link: https://www.indexjournal.com/opinion/editorials/our-view-why-shoot-the-messenger-when-the-message-is-yours/article_a0a8df31-98e8-5d0d-bc18-e6a28a6a3081.html
County leaders interested in creating new public access point on lake
/in UncategorizedThere’s something missing from Lake Greenwood.
On its north and south banks are five access points allowing for boat launching into the water. But for hundreds of miles along its shoreline, no such accommodations exist.
But with $810,000 in capital projects sales tax revenue coming into the county by October 2021 earmarked for lake improvements, that challenge might soon be resolved.
“We’ve discussed access as a priority for the use of these funds,” County Engineer Rob Russian said Tuesday.
County leaders want to hear what residents and lake users hope to see from a modern public access point before authorizing any pre-engineering or site work. To date, $530,000 has already been collected, with the balance set to roll in by late 2021.
Russian and a small delegation visited four sites along the South Carolina/Georgia border on a fact-finding trip, stopping at Green Pond Landing in Anderson County, McCormick’s Dorn Fishing Facility, the Big Oaks recreation area in Hartwell, Georgia and the Shuck Pen boat ramp in Elberton, Georgia.
From large pavilions and state-of-the-art restroom facilities to a modest launch that included a life jacket loaner station, Russian said Greenwood could consider a range of options.
As for location, the county currently owns 2.9 acres along U.S. Highway 72/221 near Break on the Lake.
“We would want to investigate doing something on that piece of property,” Russian said.
Already, there are 32 county-owned boat slips in front of Break on the Lake, with plans to add 32 more.
County council members asked whether bring that much activity to such a condensed part of the lake would lead to congestion or safety issues. Russian’s office is preparing a boat capacity study that could answer some of those questions but said Tuesday a built-out ramp likely would not hamper activity on the water.
“Would it put more boats in there? Absolutely. Would it put so many more boats in there it would be a problem? I don’t think so,” he said.
While officials haven’t committed to the project, County Council chairman Steve Brown said placing a boat launch on a part of the lake that’s a growing hub of commerce could be the best long-term use of the property.
“My concern — and this isn’t a known, but I think it’s a legitimate concern — is if the county were to make a decision not to put this boat launch there, then we’re holding onto a very valuable piece of property. When we look at traffic that we may cause, my next question would be, ‘What could go there that would be worse than a boat launch,’” Brown said. “I do hear from a lot of people who are Greenwood County people that they want better access. Once we sell that property to somebody, we have no idea what would be put there.”
Public meetings
/in UncategorizedMONDAY
GREENWOOD SCHOOL DISTRICT 50 POLICY COMMITTEE
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: 400 Glenwood St., Greenwood
AGENDA: Board officer term limits. Renaming of school.
TUESDAY
GREENWOOD COUNTY ADMINISTRATION AND FINANCE COMMITTEE
TIME: 4 p.m.
LOCATION: Greenwood Library
AGENDA: Presentation for Council to consider adding a public access point at the Hwy 72/221 Bridge; Explanation of Taxation on boats, boat motors, and watercraft and Implementation of Act 223 of 2018; Consideration of Rehabilitated Historical Property Final Certification for Floor 3 – Unit 302; Resolution 2019-22 to transfer funds from the 2007 Capital Project Sales Tax to the Hydro Project Fund for the “Emergency” Spillway Project.
GREENWOOD COUNTY COUNCIL
TIME: 5:30 p.m.
LOCATION: Greenwood Library
AGENDA:
PUBLIC HEARINGS: Ordinance 2019-18 authorizing the execution and delivery of one or more Fee-in-Lieu of ad valorem taxes and Special Source Revenue Credit Agreements by and between Greenwood County, South Carolina and Pine Gate Renewables, LLC and other affiliated entities, to provide for payment of a Fee-in-Lieu of taxes with respect to certain projects; authorizing the inclusion of certain project sites in a multi-county business park; authorizing Special Source Revenue Credits; and other related matters.; Third Reading: Ordinance 2019-16 to amend the Greenwood County Zoning Ordinance, being Ordinance 13-86, as and if amended, so that 112 properties totaling 600 acres located along Plantation Dr, Planters Ct, Abbington Ln, Barrington Ct, Harvest Ln, and English Ct (various G-Pin numbers) in Greenwood, South Carolina changes zoning classifications from RDD (Rural Development District) and AG-1 (Agricultural) to R-1 (Single Family Residential) and AG-2 (Agricultural); Resolution 2019-22 to transfer funds from the 2007 Capital Project Sales Tax to the Hydro Project Fund for the “Emergency” Spillway Project; Consideration of Appointment of County Treasurer.
THURSDAY
MCCORMICK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION
TIME: 6:30 p.m.
LOCATION: 610 South Mine St., McCormick
AGENDA: Old business: Review of McCormick County zoning ordinance. New business: Letter of resignation from Chairman Kent Kelly. Discussion from Chuck Cook on Planned Development Community. Continuing education training Oct. 24, 2019.
Our View: Where we stood and stand on a rather taxing matter
/in Index-JournalThursday’s front-page story raises an opportunity to again address Greenwood County’s capital project sales tax and reinforce a couple of this newspaper’s positions.
It is true the county intended to fund the enumerated 27 projects the penny tax would pay for in consecutive order and as the money was actually banked, the county borrowed against the anticipated revenue in a leapfrog move in an emergency move to fund new vehicles in its aging fire service fleet. The county also funded new 800 MHz radios ahead of schedule, not only because they were a need, but also because they were getting a better price plan with the early purchase.
While those purchases were a bit out of step with how the projects were initially rolled out to be funded, the moves were both logical and rational. And, moving forward, there is a better plan in place for incrementally replacing emergency vehicles in an effort to avoid emergency funding measures such as this.
No argument there.
Now, back to a position taken ahead of the CPST vote, a position we still hold onto. As it was rolled out to the voters of Greenwood County, the Index-Journal fully supported the penny sales tax. It was and remains a sensible way to fund capital projects because it makes anyone and everyone who shops in the county an investor, if you will, in those projects.
Sure, we can all pick and choose, we can all argue about which projects were needs and which were wants, but at the end of the day a majority of the county’s voters were in agreement that the idea of a penny tax generating nearly $88 million in revenue during the course of eight years to fund 27 countywide projects was a good one. Far better, certainly, than floating bonds for the projects, a move that would only obligate county taxpayers to pay the debt.
Yes, we still believe the CPST concept is a good one. We wish sharper pencils had been applied to calculating the projections for how much would be collected. And we are glad the county has recognized the need for more transparency and regular public reporting of the tax’s status, both in its county council meetings and on the county website.
County: Capital project sales tax collection running $20M short
/in UncategorizedMore than a third of the capital improvement projects included for funding when voters approved a one-cent penny sales tax in 2016 are now expected to be scrapped after county officials revealed Wednesday they’re expecting a $20 million shortfall in what they anticipated collecting.
To date, county Capital Projects Coordinator Josh Skinner said $17.52 million has been raised since the tax took effect May 1, 2017.
“Obviously, when writing the ballot question, the county planned as if it would collect $87,938,105 allowed under state law. However, based on our quarterly averages, we are conservatively projecting to collect $67,902,834,” Skinner said.
With online sales being subject to the local tax, officials said the final tally could grow to be near $70 million.
“But still not enough to fund all 27 projects on the list,” Skinner said.
Greenwood County Council chairman Steve Brown made the announcement Wednesday during a Greenwood SC Chamber of Commerce-sponsored “State of the City and County” luncheon in front of more than 200 people at Harris Baptist Church.
The referendum question was approved by a large margin, with 65% of voters agreeing to the surcharge for the creation of a funding stream to address capital investments countywide. The tax would be in place for up to 8 years or until the projected $87.9 million was in hand, whichever came first.
“We continue to be grateful to the people of Greenwood County who have allowed us to apply this sales tax and collect it and to take care of the projects that you through a referendum have approved,” Brown said.
“The money seems to be increasing somewhat. There’s been some changes, not that significant, but whether some of those projects are going to be funded, we’ll just see what happens a number of years from now,” Brown said. “I think for years to come, you’ll be pleased with how that money has been spent, and the positive impact it will have had on this community.”
County Manager Toby Chappell said Greenwood just received its eighth quarterly collection from the state Department of Revenue, which administers the funds. In the past year, the county has received $9.07 million — up more than $600,000 from the initial allocations.
Despite the dollars not adding up to early estimates, officials said those projects that have benefited from the tax will provide the county with offerings that would have been impossible to realize without the levy, such as ongoing construction of William H. “Billy” O’Dell Upstate Center for Manufacturing Excellence at Piedmont Technical College and new portable radios for first responders.
“The 800 MHz radios was a big goal of ours. We had different agencies on different frequencies. We now have everyone on one channel,” Chappell said.
County leaders shifted Skinner from his position within the planning department to coordinator of the capital project sales tax venture — a move Chappell said was designed to increase accountability.
“We talked to other communities that had a huge problem with how this went and the transparency of it, so the county said we wanted to have one person whose job was to be in charge of this money,” Chappell said.
Skinner said the anticipated $70 million figure is built around consumer behavior and future economic conditions.
“It is nearly impossible to determine where the final revenue numbers will be since they are based on purchases that will be occurring over the next 6 years in the future,” Skinner said. “Our hope is that the economy remains strong, people keep buying locally in Greenwood County and as many projects as possible on the list will get funded when the last check from the state treasurer’s office is mailed in July of 2025.”
Our View: On good jams, good deeds and good reporting
/in UncategorizedSometimes it’s OK to be in a jam. That is to say, it’s good that testing on jamming cellphone signals at state prison facilities appears to be working, and without causing problems for those not detained behind the walls and fences.
Smuggled cellphones have long plagued the prison system. Prisoners plus cellphones is not a good equation, but it’s one that needs solved. And so if some phones can continue to get smuggled in, a backup solution is jamming those phones and disabling prisoners’ ability to communicate with each other — and we’re not talking about sending each other friendly emojis and photos of what they ate — and beyond the prison walls for criminal purposes. Thumbs up for the successful tests and, we hope, eventual deployment of jamming fully across the state’s prison system.
What a beautiful gesture and outreach, certainly worthy of a thumbs up.
Reference here is made to Cynthia Christie, her sons Kamryn and Kamari and her sons’ Cub Scout Pack 96. In the wake of Hurricane Dorian’s devastating blow to the Bahamas, she and the Scouts gathered up supplies to be sent where they were most needed. Christie is married to a native Bahamian and made the Bahamas her home for 18 years before moving to Ninety Six a couple of years ago. The townspeople of Ninety Six also join in this thumbs up because they, obviously, were key participants in the effort to gather and disburse needed supplies to total strangers whose lives were in an upheaval.
We have heard from a number of readers who literally and figuratively gave us a thumbs up for our news reporting on the capital project sales tax issue and a person who labels himself a community activist. Sure, we heard from critics as well, but that is the nature of this business.
While some people would prefer we limit our reporting to only good news and features, we see our role as more than that. We’ve said it before and will say it again. Sticking to feel-good news and features would be the easier route to take, but it would be doing a disservice to the majority of readers who have higher expectations of their community newspaper.
And so we thank you for recognizing that and actually taking the time to offer your words of thanks.
Greenwood County Fire Service starts rolling out new trucks
/in UncategorizedA plan a year in the making is coming to fruition, as new firetrucks make their way into stations throughout Greenwood County.
In 2018, County Fire Coordinator Steve Holmes made a request that county council purchase 16 new vehicles by borrowing against the capital projects sales tax collections. These new trucks replace part of an aging fleet, some trucks of which are averaging nearly 30 years of wear and tear.
“What we tried to do is replace all units that were 25 years or older,” Holmes said. “Hopefully, they will stand up better to daily use.”
Even some of the fire service’s newer trucks are causing problems, like the 2014 International trucks whose specialized engines, in an attempt to meet emissions standards, have cost the county in repairs. Over the lifespan of those engines, Holmes said he’s spent about $60,000 in repairing them.
The new trucks include new tankers, engines and brush trucks, along with two new aerial ladder trucks placed near industrial areas where they’re likely to see more use. The brush trucks are replacing existing trucks that were 1980’s models on lease from another agency.
The fire engines being replaced were commercial trucks outfitted for firefighting, while the new ones were custom-built for the fire service. With that, Holmes said they’ll be better suited for the intensity of use the trucks will see daily.
“Last year I spent over $200,000 fixing firetrucks, and that’s keeping what we’ve got on the road,” he said.
The way the trucks are being distributed follows the fire service’s eight-year plan, and Holmes said the placement of each truck and the planned locations of new fire stations were carefully considered to distribute the available resources and ensure that 99% of the people living in the county will be within five road miles of a fire station.
As for the new trucks themselves, the firefighters at the Coronaca station on Highway 246 have answered a few calls with the new trucks. James Hedrick said the ride feels smoother, with better handling.
“It allows us to be more confident in our equipment,” he said.
Taylor Davis at the station said the LED lights on the trucks will be easier for motorists and pedestrians to see coming, and the pump on the tanker pushes out water better than the previous truck. Each morning, it takes the crew about half an hour to check all their equipment and make sure everything is in working order — the new trucks should make that process even smoother, Davis said.
“There was a lot of maintenance on the older trucks that we were having issues with, and hopefully that won’t be the case with these,” he said.
Our View: Why shoot the messenger when the message is yours?
/in Index-JournalWe will readily admit we are not the best mathematicians, but let’s do a little math anyway.
In 2016, the voters of Greenwood County cast a majority “yes” vote in support of a penny sales tax. The tax, called a Capital Project Sales Tax, was touted as having the potential of raising $87,938,185 for 27 detailed and specific projects throughout the county. The tax is to remain in place for eight years, unless the $87.9 million is collected in less time. But it must sunset in eight years and cannot remain in place until the $87.9 is raised.
Got that?
The tax has been collected for two years now, but is being projected to fall short of the anticipated/calculated/projected $87.9 million. That revelation was made during the Aug. 28 State of the City and County Address hosted by the Greenwood SC Chamber.
How short? That’s a question the newspaper wanted to know. We figured voters and taxpayers might also want to know. Moreover, we figured voters and taxpayers might well be interested in finding out which of the 27 projects might not come to be realized as a result of a shortfall in tax collections.
So, what did we do? We asked the folks in county government who are supposed to be able to answer these questions.
The answer we got apparently is the same answer some of the folks whose projects are on – excuse us, potentially on – the cutting room floor. Those folks received a letter on Greenwood County letterhead from the capital projects sales tax coordinator’s office. It clearly points out the need for recalculating projections:
”According to state law, Greenwood County can collect the 1% capital projects sales tax for a maximum of 8 years, or until we reach $87,938,185 in revenue. Based on our quarterly average, we are projecting to collect $67,902,834 at the end of our eight year time limit.”
Here’s where some of the math we mentioned comes in handy, and we are using the numbers straight from the letter that went out to the project “stakeholders.”
$87,938,185 — $67,902,834 = $20,035,351.
Now, best we can tell that lines up with the $20 million potential shortfall we were quoted when we sought clarification and details on the Aug. 28 revelation. And that explains why we used “$20 million” in subsequent story headlines. Hey, remember what we said. We are not all that good at math, so we used the figures given to us by those in the know as we attempted to tell the rest of the residents who we think might also want to be more in the know.
OK, let’s look at some more math, based on more of what was contained in the letter that was sent to the stakeholders of projects that likely will not get done. At least not yet.
”As you may recall, the 2016 referendum for the Capital Project Sales Tax listed 27 projects in order along with the amount of money allocated for each project. Also per state law, these projects have to be funded in the order they are listed on the ballot. Based on our total projected funding of $67,902,834, Greenwood County will only be able to fund through project 17 on the list. Unfortunately, Projects 18-27 on the list are not likely to be funded in this round of the Capital Projects Sales Tax.”
The letter then lists those potentially ill-fated projects:
• $3,397,273 for the rehabilitation of Katherine Hall in Ware Shoals
• $429,939 for the repair and maintenance of the Greenwood County Detention Center
• $208,998 for the purchase of a case management system for the 8th Circuit Solicitor’s Office
• $358,283 for the installation of fiber optic cable and related equipment on the campus of the Greenwood Genetic Center
• $2,447,774 for the construction of the Carolina Avenue Connector, a new road with related infrastructure between South Main Street and the campus of the Greenwood Genetic Center on Liner Circle in Greenwood
• $685,987 for the renovation of the Arts Center at the Federal Building in Greenwood, including but not limited to the replacement of the roof and certain flooring, and painting of the exterior
• $1,221,806 for the construction of an exhibition hall replicating the former Southern Passenger Depot for the Railroad Historical Center
• $1,468,664 for the purchase of a platform fire truck and related equipment for the City of Greenwood Fire Department
• $1,223,887 for the placement of lines for water service and fire suppression in the area of Harris Landing
• $4,895,548 for the placement of lines for water services and fire suppression in the area of Highway 25 South
Now add those figures up and you will get $16,338,159. Of course, that’s not $20 million, but again, we were told the same thing those stakeholders were told in the letter. We refer you to the earlier math that shows the county anticipating as much as a $20 million shortfall.
Yet, somehow, the Index-Journal is made out to look like bad guys in this tale, according to some county officials and council members. The shortfall wasn’t revealed publicly until it was brought up to about 200 people attending the Aug. 28 State of the City and County Address. We did what we should in asking questions and seeking more details. We shared those details in an extensive special report published Sept. 8.
And up until County Council met Tuesday, no one in county government contacted us about our reporting, and certainly not to say it was inaccurate. Instead, Toby Chappell, county manager, in giving a CPST update to council, said “The number $20 million has been thrown around in the media recently. Is it possible that the 2016 capital project sales tax will be $20 million short in 2025? The short answer is yes. However, it’s also possible that you win the South Carolina Powerball at 1 in 292 million odds, and it’s possible that FERC may approve our fuse plug issue, but it’s not likely.”
While we all still give a damn about the dam at Buzzard Roost, Chappell might have hit on a good idea. Perhaps county officials should, with their own money, buy Powerball tickets and, if they win, make a magnanimous gesture by donating whatever the shortfall winds up being.
We were also more than a bit disappointed by Councilman Chuck Moates’ response, following Chappell’s report to council Tuesday.
“To anyone who can read and hear logic, this makes perfectly good sense, and it’s a shame that we’ve had to deal with this turmoil, but I appreciate you addressing it in such a professional and dignified manner and I hope it will be reported as such,” he said.
We can only take that to imply that the newspaper, in trying to inform taxpayers, voters — who we rank as stakeholders in this — created turmoil. And we take it to imply our process of coverage is deemed both unprofessional and undignified.
This is particularly disappointing, considering what Moates had to say at an August County Council meeting only days after this newspaper’s former publisher and president, Judi Burns, died.
“As a champion of the freedom of the press, she stood up against partisan forces that would hinder the right of the public to know what was going on in local government,” Moates said. “At a time in our society when powerful governmental leaders are prone to denigrate the press, spreading false and malicious rumors, undermining the public’s trust in the Fourth Estate by labeling accurate reporting as ‘fake facts,’ Judi Burns stood fervently up and defended the role of journalism to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. … As a champion of the freedom of the press, she stood up against partisan forces that would hinder the right of the public to know what was going on in local government.”
And that, readers, taxpayers, voters and stakeholders, is precisely what we have continued to do in covering the CPST issue.
Our View: On fall weather, productive work
/in Index-JournalIt probably won’t last from here on out, but it is good to feel fall in the air as the week comes to a close. The crisp looking skies and lower temperatures give us all hope that the warm — make that hot — weather is starting to wane. That’s worth a thumbs up, isn’t it?
This hint of change in the weather should spell better nights for football and, we hope, bring an end to summer-like thunderstorms interrupting those games. If memory serves us correctly, this past year’s football season had far too many storm-battered Fridays that played havoc with teams’ ability to play.
Pool closing time might be on us all, but the nicer fall weather that hits before winter still provides great opportunity to get on the lake, be outdoors for cookouts and gatherings around fire pits. It provides excellent golf weather too.
We are blessed in South Carolina in many ways, to include our four-season experiences. Yes, summers can be a bit unbearable, but generally we have pleasant falls, winters that are not too harsh and beautiful springs — minus the allergies that accompany spring’s arrival. Plus, we have a great coastline and easy access to the hills and mountains.
Good news came from the Tuesday meeting of Greenwood County Council.
For one, as you read today, progress is being made on the Buzzard Roost dam project that our federal government mandated what seems like a generation ago.
But on another front, it is good to know that the county will be posting financial updates on the Capital Project Sales Tax collection rate so residents can readily be kept up to date at any time, from any location where they have internet access. Additionally, periodic updates on CPST’s status will now become a regular part of reports given, as warranted, during the council’s regular meetings. Voters and taxpayers alike should be happy to know these steps are being taken.
We agree it’s easy to armchair quarterback, a point made apparently in response to this newspaper’s efforts to seek answers on the CPST’s potential shortfall. We also agree that no one on council, or council as a whole, is perfect. So far as we know, no one has or should have that expectation. But we give a thumbs up for the steps being taken now and moving forward.
So we’ll point a thumb upward on those steps and, for now, set aside some of the commentary that arose during that meeting.
Piedmont Tech to expand advising center
/in Index-JournalPiedmont Technical College’s push to improve student retention seems to be working, the administration reported at Tuesday’s Area Commission meeting.
CAREplan is a redesign of the college’s advising plan for students in health care programs. Last year, the college unveiled the CARE Planning Center, a one-stop-shop on the Greenwood campus for health care students’ advising needs.
President Ray Brooks said the goal was to make sure students didn’t waste their time and money jumping among programs, trying to make up their minds regarding what exactly they wanted to study.
As the Index-Journal reported in January, the persistence rate among CAREplan students from fall 2018 to spring 2019 far exceeded expectations, Karla Gilliam, an instructional specialist at Piedmont Tech, told commissioners.
Architects of CAREplan hoped that 55% of the students who took advantage of the service would come back for a second semester. More than 80% did.
The administration also tracked the percentage of students who had made degree plans and followed through on them. Gilliam said the goals were ambitious: 100% of students were expected to complete a plan by the end of the semester, and two-thirds were expected to be following it.
About 90% of students eventually made degree plans. A little more than half of the fall 2018 cohort and just under two-thirds of the spring 2019 cohort were following them by the end of the spring semester.
Smaller planning centers will open at Piedmont Tech’s Laurens and Newberry counties’ campuses this year. In year three, centers will open at the remaining satellite campuses.
Randy Cooper, of the Brittingham Group, presented the commission a summary of his firm’s audit of the college. Cooper said it received an unmodified, or clean, opinion.
In other business:
– Jack Bagwell, vice president of academic affairs, said Piedmont Tech recently signed an articulation agreement with Anderson University. According to a press release, students from PTC who meet transfer requirements will be guaranteed admission to Anderson. Bagwell said that similar discussions are taking place with Lander, Augusta and S.C. State universities.
– Commissioner Y.J. Ahn asked Brooks whether a projected shortfall in Greenwood County’s Capital Project Sales Tax revenues would jeopardize the Upstate Center for Manufacturing Excellence. It is financed partially though the CPST. Brooks said the project was one of the first on the list to receive funding and, as such, is safe.
Index-Journal withdraws FOI request to county over CPST data
/in Index-JournalGreenwood’s daily newspaper has rescinded a Freedom of Information Act request to county officials that sought more details about the process used to generate the $87.9 million dollar amount placed on 2016 ballots as part a capital project sales tax initiative.
The Index-Journal on Sept. 9 asked county leaders for “any materials used to calculate the latest projection of the Capital Project Sales Tax; From July 1, 2018 to today, any correspondences to or from Josh Skinner, Toby Chappell or the Treasurer’s Office pertaining to the collection of the Capital Project Sales Tax, to include projections of future collections; Documentation pertaining to the eight quarterly checks received thus far from the current Capital Project Sales Tax; and records pertaining to how money has been spent or disbursed thus far from the funds collected from the Capital Project Sales Tax.”
During a Tuesday County Council meeting, Chappell, the county manager, answered several of those questions. Under state law, the penny sales tax can be assessed for 8 years or until the $87.9 million figure is reached.
The Index-Journal withdrew its FOI request on Thursday after the presentation addressed many of the points included in the newspaper’s query.
In late August, county officials acknowledged that revenue was lagging behind projections by as much as $20 million, prompting a nearly 6,000-word report by the Index-Journal that ran Sept. 8 exploring the issue further.
Tuesday, Chappell and other county leaders said they expect the 1-cent tax to vastly outperform that conservative $67.9 million estimate, which if realized would leave 10 of the 27 projects on ice.
“The number $20 million has been thrown around in the media recently. Is it possible that the 2016 capital project sales tax will be $20 million short in 2025? The short answer is yes. However, it’s also possible that you win the South Carolina Powerball at 1 in 292 million odds, and it’s possible that FERC may approve our fuse plug issue, but it’s not likely,” Chappell said.
On Sept. 10, the state Office of Revenue and Fiscal Affairs, in response to a question by county leaders about how much a 1-cent tax could generated, provided an estimate of $5.81 million in first-year collections.
But since Greenwood County brought in $8.4 million worth of sales tax dollars in 2010 through a 2007 penny tax initiative, officials asked for a second look at the numbers.
And on Sept. 30, 2015, Chappell said, the state came back with an updated projection of $9.5 million.
Extrapolating that across eight years, Chappell said, gave the county a baseline figure of $76 million.
As a hand-picked committee waded through applications, the costs of projects making the cut were recalibrated to take into account inflation and annual growth, adding about $11 million to the number, for a cap of $87.9 million.
For a $20 million shortfall to take place, “you’d have to have catastrophic economic events to occur, none of which the county knows of or anticipates,” Chappell said.
To date, $17.52 million has been raised since the tax took effect on May 1, 2017.