2022 Hometown Legislative Action Day Arrives Tuesday, February 1

Hometown Legislative Action Day will return to its traditional form in 2022 as an in-person, single day event that calls attention to the issues that matter to cities and towns and fosters relationships between state legislators and municipal governments. 

Taking place Tuesday, February 1 at the Marriott Columbia, HLAD will offer sessions highlighting the Municipal Association’s Advocacy Initiatives. In a General Session, Matt Lehrman will discuss how to encourage civility between municipal officials and the residents they serve through meaningful community conversation, and SC Secretary of Commerce Harry Lightsey will speak during lunch. 

Also on the agenda for Hometown Legislative Action Day are topics such as an analysis of the results of the 2020 census for South Carolina’s cities and towns, a roundtable discussion of law enforcement reform with members of the General Assembly, and a highlight of what the SC Law Enforcement Assistance Program and SC First Responder Assistant and Support Team can do for first responders. The Municipal Association of SC has expanded its focus on advocating for the interests of South Carolina’s cities and towns at the federal level, and one of the sessions will feature a panel discussion with members of Sen. Tim Scott’s and Rep. Ralph Norman’s offices. 

Download the app 

The Municipal Association’s new app offers details on training opportunities, advocacy updates and job openings, among other resources. Those registered for HLAD and the Municipal Elected Officials Institute of Government on February 2 can also use the app to follow along with the agenda, connect with the speakers, attendees and get updates. Download the app from Google Play and the App Store. Launch the event app by selecting “More” in the bottom menu. 

Parking 

There is limited parking for HLAD participants in the parking garage behind the Marriott, which has entrances on Hampton and Sumter streets, for $10 per day, payable by cash. Meeting attendees and hotel guests may not park above level 4-A in this garage, or they will be towed. 

Additional parking is available at the Cannon parking garage located at 1227 Taylor St., one block from the hotel. At the Cannon garage on Taylor Street, there is a special events attendant in the garage from 7 – 11 a.m. Attendees must pay the special events attendant $10 by cash only and place a parking ticket on the car dashboard. 

More information 

Beyond HLAD, there are some other steps city and town officials can also take to keep up with what’s happening at the State House: 

• Subscribe to From the Dome to Your Home, the Association’s weekly legislative report delivered by email every Friday during the session. The report takes a look at what’s happening with the Association’s Advocacy Initiatives as well as any other legislation with an impact on cities and towns. 
• Listen to the City Quick Connect podcast, where the Association’s advocacy staff discuss the week’s legislative happenings during the session.

Join or Renew With an Affiliate Association in 2022

Educational efforts are a key function of the Municipal Association of SC, which offers professional development that allows elected officials and staff to serve their cities and towns better. 

The Association has affiliate organizations that help communities of peers in various fields of local government to network, learn through specially developed training and share best practices and experiences. The affiliate associations have listserve systems that make sharing information and best practices around the state easier and faster. 

The 2021 Annual Meeting of the Municipal Technology Association of SC in Charleston covered topics ranging from cyberattacks to ransomware prevention, cloud computing and legal issues for IT professionals. 

The Municipal Association provides management support to the boards of directors for each affiliate, a group elected by that affiliate’s membership. 

All of the affiliates’ membership applications and renewals for 2022 are now available. The nominal membership costs provide each participant with discounted training registrations and access to that group’s closed listserve. 

The Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Institute, sponsored in part by the SC Municipal Finance Officers, Clerks and Treasurers Association, has trained and graduated officials since 1979. 

The affiliate organizations are these: 

Municipal Court Administration Association of SC 

MCAA provides training for court administrators, clerks of court, municipal judges and other employees involved in court administration. Staff contact: Sara Whitaker

Municipal Technology Association of SC 

MTASC exposes members to a broad range of technology systems, platforms and solutions. It offers training for IT staff, those with GIS responsibilities and employees working in other departments but whose duties include technology services. Staff contact: Sara Whitaker 

SC Association of Municipal Power Systems 

SCAMPS focuses on legislative initiatives, mutual aid and provides training for elected officials, management staff and operational personnel of the electric cities in the state. Staff contact: Elizabeth Copeland 

SC Association of Stormwater Managers
SCASM offers quarterly training on stormwater management policies and best practices. Training addresses topics like proposed changes to stormwater regulations and case studies of innovative practices. Staff contact: Sara Whitaker 

SC Business Licensing Officials Association 

BLOA promotes best practices for administering the local business and professional license tax through training, networking and the Accreditation in Business Licensing and Masters in Business Licensing credentials. Staff contact: Elizabeth Copeland 

SC Community Development Association 

SCCDA training focuses on economic and community development needs, best practices and successful case studies. Members come from local and state government as well as private industry, elected positions and volunteer positions. Staff contact: Sara Whitaker 

SC Municipal Attorneys Association 

The MAA annual training, designed for city and town attorneys, complies with the Supreme Court of South Carolina Commission on CLE and specialization requirements for continuing education credits. Staff contact: Eric Shytle 

SC Municipal Finance Officers, Clerks and Treasurers Association 

MFOCTA training covers the diverse job responsibilities of its members. MFOCTA sponsors the Municipal Clerks and Treasurers Institute with the Municipal Association and the Joseph P. Riley Jr. Center for Livable Communities. Staff contact: Elizabeth Copeland 

SC Municipal Human Resources Association 

MHRA helps members stay current on state and federal labor law and court rulings. Its trainings are accepted by national human resources organizations for continuing education credits. Staff contact: Sara Whitaker 

SC Utility Billing Association 

SCUBA trains members on utility billing, collections and customer service. Programs frequently focus on customer service skills, workplace safety and best practices in utility billing and collections. Staff contact: Ken Ivey 

Join an affiliate online or by contacting the Association’s staff.

A Look Back on My Year as President of the National League of Cities

By NLC Immediate Past President Kathy Maness, councilmember from the Town of Lexington, SC 

Kathy Maness speaks at the Congressional City Conference as the NLC president. 

Since March of 2020, a multitude of crises have converged on municipalities including weather disasters, the economic downturn and of course, the COVID-19 pandemic. 

As a councilwoman from Lexington, I know just how challenging it can be to tackle these issues in my community and I was glad for the state and national support we received from the Municipal Association of SC and the National League of Cities. 

NLC is the nation’s oldest and largest advocacy organization, serving as the voice of America’s cities, towns and villages, representing more than 200 million people across the country.

In November 2020, I was elected as the first person from South Carolina to serve as president of the National League of Cities. During this year, the COVID-19 pandemic turned our world upside down. 

And as President, I made sure that NLC worked hand-in-hand with the Municipal Association of SC and other municipal leagues across the country to help our cities and towns respond, recover and rebuild from the impact of the pandemic. 

Immediately following NLC’s Congressional City Conference in March 2020, stay-at-home orders were issued across the country. 

Throughout the pandemic, municipal leaders took action for their residents and continued the important work of running our communities. In Lexington, we stablished a $1 million loan program to aid in-town businesses impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. We also provided a rebate program aimed at investing $250,000 back into small businesses in 30 days. 

From helping small businesses, supporting food banks and giving critical support to residents, the work and leadership of local officials from across the nation and especially in South Carolina were critical in keeping our residents moving forward – but we couldn’t do it alone.

I am so proud of all the work that the National League of Cities, in close partnership with state municipal leagues such as Municipal Association of SC, did to support local leaders and ensure federal relief for our communities during my year as president. It took more than a year of lobbying and making our case that Cities Are Essential to the media, but, in the end, we delivered for municipalities in South Carolina and across the country. 

In March of 2021, American Rescue Plan Act delivered $65.1 billion dollars in federal relief to cities, towns and villages across America. More than $620 million went directly to municipalities in South Carolina. 

Last month, the BIPARTISAN infrastructure bill was passed marking an important turning point for our nation’s infrastructure, with historic investments supporting South Carolina communities rebuild with more than $6 billion for much needed improvements to our roads, bridges, water and broadband. 

That past year has been truly challenging and it has taught us that we all will always have both new and old issues to address. However, I’m grateful it has also shown us all we can accomplish together and that we are never alone in facing the obstacles ahead.

Monthly Business Licensing Virtual Trainings Begin in January

Each month in 2022, the Municipal Association’s Local Revenue Services will host “Business Licensing Essentials,” a series of virtual meetings, each tackling one element of the business licensing process. The first session, covering renewal notices, will take place Wednesday, January 12 from 10 – 11:30 a.m.

Act 176, the SC Business License Tax Standardization Act, created a new statewide business license year beginning May 1 and ending the following April 30. As a result, those cities and others should issue their license renewal notices earlier than in the past. 

For the first year under this new schedule, cities and towns should, as a best practice, send out renewal notices in January or February 2022. The notice should feature explanations of the new law, including how it works as a solution to longstanding business concerns about the licensing process, how it standardizes many of the practices, and how it established the online Local Business License Renewal Center. The notice should also include the locally-determined penalty date and penalty amount for business that do not renew their licenses on time. 

As 2022 progresses, the Local Revenue Services training sessions will focus on topics such as manufacturers, calculating business license rates correctly and records retention. The aim for these sessions is to allow business licensing expertise to be shared from the Municipal Association staff and for business licensing professionals to share knowledge and ask questions in a monthly forum. While each session will have a topic, attendees will also be able to ask questions of the Local Revenue Services staff. 

Act 176 streamlines the business license process for all jurisdictions across the state. The Municipal Association staff produced a wealth of information about the new law and how to comply with it. 

Sign up for January’s Business Licensing Essentials event on the Municipal Association’s training calendar.

Impacts of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal in South Carolina

In November, Congress passed the $550 billion Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal, a major piece of legislation which will impact South Carolina in many ways. The Municipal Association of SC is participating in the White House briefing sessions to understand how the BID will work locally.

Information is still limited and subject to change in 2022, but there is some information available now. 

• Roads and bridges – Under preliminary estimates, South Carolina can expect to receive $4.6 billion in federal aid for highway programs and $274 million for repairing and replacing bridges, all during a five-year period, likely beginning once the funds have been allocated. 
• Public transportation – Current formula funding indicates that South Carolina may receive $366 million for public transportation improvements — for vehicle replacements, electric vehicles and accessibility upgrades — over five years. 
• Electric vehicle network – South Carolina may receive $70 million over five years for expanding the state’s EV charging network. 
• Broadband – South Carolina will receive at least $100 million to help establish broadband coverage across the state. 
• Climate change and cybersecurity – Based on historical formula funding levels, South Carolina can expect to receive $15 million over five years to protect against wildfires and $18.3 million to protect against cyberattacks.   
• Water infrastructure – Based on the traditional State Revolving Fund formula, South Carolina will expect to receive $510 million over five years to improve water infrastructure across the state.  
• Airports – South Carolina airports can expect to receive approximately $161 million for airport infrastructure development over five years for repair, maintenance, and the reduction of congestion and emissions. 

The White House’s Executive Order on Implementation of the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act — the former name of the BID — established an Infrastructure Implementation Task Force to coordinate the law’s implementation. The co-chair of the task force is encouraging states and local governments to establish an infrastructure coordinator role for BID project management.

Find more information about local impacts of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Deal here. The Municipal Association will share additional federal guidance as it becomes available. 

The Municipal Association has recently expanded its focus on advocating for the interests of South Carolina’s cities and towns at the federal level. A recent podcast brought together Erica Wright, the member of the advocacy team tasked with federal outreach, with Director of Advocacy and Communications Scott Slatton and Manager for Municipal Advocacy Casey Fields to talk about how federal advocacy benefits South Carolina cities and towns.

Building Congressional Relationships for SC Cities and Towns

The Municipal Association of SC has expanded its focus on advocating for the interests of South Carolina’s cities and towns at the federal level, and already the effort has improved engagement with the state’s congressional delegation. 

A key part of this effort has been the establishment of a dedicated congressional liaison — a role assigned to Erica Wright, who joined the Association’s staff as a legislative and public policy advocate in April 2020. She has since nurtured relationships with the staffs of both of South Carolina’s senators and each of its seven representatives. 

A recent podcast brought together Erica Wright with Director of Advocacy and Communications Scott Slatton and Manager for Municipal Advocacy Casey Fields to talk about how these congressional relationships have unfolded and how they benefit cities and towns in South Carolina. 

Here are some highlights from the recent efforts: 

Outreach with municipalities 

The passage of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, or CARES Act, in March 2020 highlighted the need for strong federal relationships when many cities and towns brought questions about reimbursable expenses to the Association. 

In March 2021, Congress passed the American Rescue Plan, a massive emergency relief bill that provides $65.1 billion to municipal governments nationwide to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Municipal Association worked to help cities and towns understand the parameters that the law creates for using the funds, and it helped the SC Department of Administration obtain needed information from the nonentitlement cities so they could draw their funds from the state. 

Outreach with the congressional delegation 

In September, Aiken Mayor Rick Osbon, first vice president of the Municipal Association, the Association’s Executive Director Todd Glover and members of the Association’s advocacy staff traveled to Washington, D.C., for meetings with members of the congressional delegation. Association staff shared the Municipal Association’s purpose and its desire to serve as a resource and partner with federal legislators as they explore legislation impacting local government. They met with House Majority Whip Jim Clyburn, Sen. Tim Scott, Rep. Joe Wilson as well as staffers from the delegation’s offices. 

Municipal Association officials meet with Rep. Jim Clyburn, at center. 

In 2022, the Association is planning quarterly meetings with the congressional delegation, and it will host opportunities in each home congressional district for city and town officials to engage more directly with their representatives. 

Hometown Legislative Action Day 

The Association’s Hometown Legislative Action Day, taking place February 1 in Columbia, will feature congressional delegation staff members joining in a panel discussion on federal advocacy. Learn more about all HLAD sessions and register here.

Business License Processes Changing for Municipal Councils and Staff in 2022

The compliance deadline for most of the provisions of the South Carolina Business License Tax Standardization Act, or Act 176, begins on January 1, 2022. The law requires a standard business license year among all taxing jurisdictions around the state, standard deadlines for payment due dates and refunds, acceptance of a standardized license application, a standard class schedule, appeals process, and a requirement that cities and towns accept renewal payments through the new Local Business License Renewal Center. 

As result of all the changes, the business licensing process will look different both for local policymakers and for municipal staff. In a recent episode of the City Quick Connect podcast, the Municipal Association’s Scott Slatton and Caitlin Cothran discuss the new normal for business licensing. 

What does Act 176 mean for city or town council decisions? 

After Act 176’s January 1, 2022, effective date, elected councils will maintain the authority to 

• enact their own business license ordinances governing how they administer the licensing in their municipality, although the Municipal Association strongly recommends using its model business license ordinance; 
• set business license tax rates and nonpayment penalty rates; and 
• create license subclasses for economic development. 

The law preserves existing agreements and provides for future agreements that cities create with a certain business for the calculation of business license tax. 

Cities and towns may also continue to contract with third-party companies to identify businesses that do not comply with business license tax ordinances. But Act 176 restricts third parties’ contact with businesses that do not comply with license requirements. 

What does Act 176 mean for business license staff in 2022 and afterward? 

Because Act 176 likely changes many jurisdictions’ business license deadlines, municipal staff should adjust their internal administrative practices. 

• Applications – All taxing jurisdictions must now accept the statewide standard business license application. Municipalities may still use their own application, but must also accept the standard application.
• Class schedules – When first setting up a business license, cities and towns must assign the business a six-digit North American Industry Classification System code, or NAICS code. Act 176 establishes a standard class schedule, where businesses are placed into classes using the latest edition of NAICS based on profitability. 
• Rates – Cities and towns must calculate the business license tax using the business’s gross income for the previous calendar year or its previous fiscal year. 
• Renewals – Business license staff must now make the Local Business License Renewal Center available as a payment option for businesses. The renewal center allows businesses to renew their licenses with every jurisdiction in the state. The standard license year of May 1 to April 30 means that licensing officials should issue renewal notices in January or February — earlier than in the past. This can help ensure that cities and towns have their business’s information to load into the renewal center software. 
• Appeals – Act 176 outlines a standard appeals process including deadlines for appeals and responses. The appeals hearing must take place within 30 days of the city receiving the appeal form. 

Learn more about Act 176 and the seven-step compliance process that cities and towns should complete before the end of 2021.

2021 Hometown Economic Development Grant Recipients Announced

Since the Municipal Association of SC board of directors first established the Hometown Economic Development Grants in 2016, the program has helped to fund numerous and diverse economic development projects all around the state — everything from the renovation of a historic Art Deco theater in Saluda to the development of the Interactive Art Park in West Columbia. 

A grant award to the City of Woodruff in 2020 contributed to the “Block 224” project, an effort to transform a dilapidated downtown building into a public space that connects downtown businesses with off-street parking. 

In Woodruff, the Block 224 project connected Main Street businesses with public parking behind their buildings and with the city’s refurbished McKinney Park. 

The Hometown Economic Development Grant program funds projects that will produce measurable results, can be maintained over time and illustrate innovative and sustainable practices that can be replicated in other cities. After applicants make submissions in September, an awards committee of former and current local government and state agency professionals evaluate the applications. 

Cities and towns receiving a grant must provide matching funds, with the amount based on their populations, submit reports about the progress and successes of each grant-funded project and provide financial details of how the grant funds were used. 

Here are the winners of the 2021 grant cycle: 

City of Beaufort 

South Coast Cyber Center 

Beaufort will repurpose a former school facility into the downtown headquarters for the South Coast Cyber Center, a world-class facility dedicated to cybersecurity, cyber defense education and innovation. 

City of Cayce 

Cayce River Arts District 

Cayce will infuse more public art into the Cayce River Arts District through everyday objects in order to continue the area’s redevelopment and growth. 

Town of Donalds 

Municipal and Historical Preservation Park 

Grant funds will help fully restore, renovate and optimize the building and parcel of the Donalds Grange No. 497, a historic property that is a part of the South Carolina Heritage Corridor and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. 

City of Georgetown 

Multi-Purpose Outdoor Marketplace and Park 

In partnership with multiple organizations, Georgetown will redevelop the empty downtown site of the former city hall into a multipurpose facility to host farmers markets, food trucks, holiday markets and a variety of other attractions. 

Town of Greeleyville 

Historic Downtown Streetscape Improvement Project 

The town will use grant funds as part of a Community Development Block Grant match to fund streetscape upgrades to the Greeleyville Town Centre. 

Town of Honea Path 

Main Street Facelift 

Honea Path will assist business owners ready to make positive changes to their facades in an effort to continue downtown revitalization efforts. 

Town of Moncks Corner 

Miracle League Field 

Building on the planning work it has pursued in recent years, Moncks Corner will use grant funds for construction of its Miracle League Field.

Town of Pacolet
Continuing the Pacolet Tradition 

The Pacolet Amphitheater grounds and infrastructure will be rehabilitated and upgraded to ensure its continued use as a traditional gathering place for town residents and community events. 

Town of Pelion 

Revitalization, Restoration and Reuse of the Former Pelion Train Warehouse 

Grant funds will restore Pelion’s former train warehouse into a museum and event space that will host meetings. 

Town of Society Hill 

1822 Library Historic Preservation 

In preparation for its bicentennial in 2022, Society Hill will conduct rehabilitation and preservation work on one of the oldest surviving public lending libraries in the state. 

Town of Seabrook Island 

Gateway and Wayfinding 

Helping visitors find their way to local attractions and businesses will become easier with Seabrook Island’s grant-funded project to install gateway and wayfinding signage. 

City of Westminster 

Gateway to Revitalization 

Westminster will enhance its Commercial Building Improvement Grant Program in an effort to include more downtown buildings in the city’s revitalization. 

The Municipal Association launched the Hometown Economic Development Grants in 2016 and have awarded grants each year since then. Learn more about the grants, and see the recipients of past cycles back to 2016.

New ‘Gross Income’ Definition for Business Licensing

The SC Business License Tax Standardization Act of 2020, or Act 176, standardizes many aspects of local business license tax administration across the state, including the definition of “gross income.” Taxing jurisdictions use a business’s reported gross income as the base on which they calculate a business’ license tax. Before the new law, exactly what constituted gross income varied by jurisdiction, creating confusion among businesses and local governments. 

As of January 1, 2022, SC Code Section 6-1-400 (e)(1) will specifically define the term “gross income” for any city, town or county that levies a business license tax. For most businesses, gross income “means the gross receipts or gross revenue of a business, received or accrued, for one calendar or fiscal year collected or to be collected from business done within a taxing jurisdiction.” 

Definitions for most businesses
For a business located within a municipality, the license tax will be based on the entirety of its gross income, with the tax paid to the municipality in which it resides. The business may deduct from its gross income any income on which it pays a license tax to another jurisdiction. 

For a business not located within the city where it does business, the license tax will be based upon and paid only on the income it earns from work that takes place within that city. 

The law also allows businesses to deduct other types of funds from their reported gross income. Examples include “taxes collected for a governmental entity, escrow funds, or funds that are the property of a third party.” 

Businesses with unique definitions 

There are several industries in the state for whom longstanding definitions of “gross income” are unique and included within Act 176: 

• Real estate agents and brokers have a unique definition of gross income. 
• Insurance companies, manufacturers and telecommunications companies all have their own definition of gross income as well. 

These industries’ gross income definitions were previously found in various sections of state law and local ordinances. Act 176 consolidates them into one section of state law for easy reference. 

Verifying gross income 

Occasionally, a business’s reported gross income must be verified by a taxing jurisdiction. Perhaps the business’s gross income is higher than in previous years, or the business is not claiming all of the deductions allowed under the law. In those cases and others, Act 176 allows the city, town or county to inspect a business’s records to ensure the accuracy of its reported gross income. According to Act 176, taxing jurisdictions may review “returns and reports filed with the Internal Revenue Service, the South Carolina Department of Revenue, the South Carolina Department of Insurance, or other governmental agencies.” 

Learn more  

• The Municipal Association of SC website has a seven-step process to simplify the standardization process. 
• The Association’s City Quick Connect podcast has episodes that delve into many of the critical issues of business license standardization. 
• Each month in 2022, the Association’s Local Revenue Services will host “Business Licensing Essentials,” a series of webinars to explain critical elements of the business license administration process. The first session on January 12 will detail the process of sending out renewals.

New Cooperative Purchasing Program Now Available for South Carolina Cities and Towns

City Connect Market, a new cooperative purchasing partnership between the Municipal Association of SC and HGACBuy, allows South Carolina’s cities and towns to take advantage of volume discounts when purchasing everything from fire trucks to roll carts to professional services. 

The partnership brings to South Carolina a purchasing program first created by the Houston-Galveston Area Council of Texas in 1975. HGACBuy staff receive bids and assist with local government purchasing around the nation. The program improves pricing and can help eliminate the need for each municipality to handle all details of each competitive bid process. 

On October 14, HGACBuy and the Municipal Association will host an online partnership panel event to discuss the benefits of cooperative purchasing and how South Carolina municipalities can take advantage of the program. Registration for that event is available now. 

HGACBuy helps with purchasing in 41 major categories of products. The category for public works equipment, for example, ranges from garbage and recycling containers to construction and maintenance tools, street maintenance and sweeping equipment, utility meters and traffic control devices, among other items. 

The program also handles the purchase of services, and works with more than 800 contractors. Service categories include community planning to public relations and events, temporary staffing and hiring services, emergency planning and recovery services, sewer cleaning services and others. 

The City Connect Market webpage features links to product listings under all of the contract categories. Users can search the available products or services, or can contact the Municipal Association with a specific request. The Association will work with the product vendor to ensure that the municipality receives a quote using the HGACBuy pricing guidelines. 

After the municipality receives and approves a quote, the Association will work directly with HGACBuy to place the order. The Association serves as a liaison to assist the municipality throughout the purchasing process. Those cities and towns that wish to use this process should review their procurement ordinances to make sure that cooperative purchasing partnerships are an approved purchasing method.