City Quick Connect Podcast From The Municipal Association Of South Carolina

The Local Business License Renewal Center, which cities and towns must use to comply with Act 176, is intended as one way to make the license process easier for businesses. Caitlin Cothran and Kaylee Summerton of the Municipal Association’s Local Revenue Services describe lessons learned in the first round of license renewals, and what municipalities need to know for business licensing in 2023. More information: www.masc.sc/programs/local-reve…ense-renewal-center

The Association’s field services manager team has grown, helping each of the members deliver more value to all of the state’s 271 cities and towns. Ashley Kellahan has joined Jeff Shacker and Charlie Barrineau as part of the team. Hear from all three about the services they offer and the territories they cover. Learn more: https://www.masc.sc/Pages/resources/Request-Municipal-Assistance.aspx

Erica Wright, Scott Slatton and Casey Fields discuss the Municipal Association’s ongoing efforts to build working relationships with every member of the state’s congressional delegation through meetings in Washington, sharing information on the American Rescue Plan funding and other critical topics, and through congressional briefing sessions with city and town officials.

Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover and Chief Operating Officer Jake Broom discuss the upcoming Annual Meeting, taking place in Charleston July 14 – 17, including sessions focused on key themes such as civility in government and economic development. Learn more: https://www.masc.sc/Pages/programs/knowledge/training/2022-Annual-Meeting.aspx

Scott Slatton and Casey Fields talk about legislative action at the end of the regular session, including the efforts to get election reform law passed, the passage of the law enforcement “betterment” bill and the state’s American Rescue Plan fund allocation, and also the two versions of the state budget that include funded items for which the Municipal Association advocated. They also explain what the General Assembly can take up when they return to session under the sine die resolution.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk about legislative action in the next-to-last week of the session, including the law enforcement “betterment” bill receiving third reading, the medical cannabis bill being ruled out of order, and the bill to allocate the state’s American Rescue Plan dollars being amended by the House.

Scott Slatton and Casey Fields talk about the differences between the House and Senate versions of the state budget, as well as the status of the law enforcement reform bill and proposals for addressing gun offenses. They also cover the latest on the service fees bill, the election reform bills and what could happen to the state’s American Rescue Plan funds at the end of the session.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk about the impacts of House Speaker Jay Lucas stepping down and the creation of the House Freedom Caucus, as well as end-of-regular-session action on the low-income housing tax credit cap bill, the election procedures bill, the law enforcement “betterment” bill and others.

Scott Slatton and Casey Fields talk about the Senate Finance Committee’s approval of the state budget, the 18.1% increase in employer contributions to the State Health Plan, the election bill that would shorten the municipal election certification period and create an early voting period, and the bills that would allow post-traumatic stress disorder as a reason for public safety officials to file worker’s compensation claims.

Casey Fields, Joannie Nickel and Erica Wright discuss legislative action during the week of the crossover deadline, the last day for a bill to pass out of the chamber in which it was introduced. They cover the road and user fees bill, the election bill that would create a two-week early voting period, the state’s American Rescue Plan allocations, the medical cannabis bill and the opioid settlement bill.

Scott Slatton and Casey Fields talk about the medical cannabis bill, the bill that would extend the state’s e-waste program, the bill that would increase the SC Police Officers Retirement System retiree earnings limitation, the proposed new regulation for alcoholic food products, the proposed cap on the SC Housing Tax Credit and the road fee bill.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss the railroad business license tax bill, the service or user feed bill that would require fees to be used for the nonexclusive benefit of the payers, the bill that would cap the low-income housing tax credit program, and the campaign filing news that points toward a significant change in the makeup of the SC House of Representatives.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss the completion of the state budget work in the House, including a proviso that would remove earnings limitations for return-to-work retirees in the state retirement systems and a proviso that would fund part of the increase in public employers’ retirement system contributions. They also discuss the status of the law enforcement reform bill, the potential restructuring of beach nourishment funds and the potential cap on the low-income housing tax credit.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss the General Assembly’s budget work, including the increase to State Health Plan employer contributions; the bill that would allow counties to place commercial property nuisance abatement costs on property tax bills; the bills that would cut taxes, and legislative action on law enforcement reform.

Scott Slatton and Casey Fields discuss the election reform bill that would expand early voting, the proposed budget proviso that would increase State Health Plan employer premiums, the tax cut bill and the Association’s testimony about following the law on increasing Local Government Fund allocations.

Scott Slatton, Casey Fields and Joannie Nickel discuss the bill that would extend state development permits, the bill that would ban holding phones while driving, the General Assembly’s income tax cut proposals and the status of the state budget.

Casey Fields, Scott Slatton and Erica Wright talk about the bill that would give cities with small revenues an alternative to a full audit, election bills and state American Rescue Plan allocations, including for water systems.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton talk about the medical cannabis bill, the distribution of the Savannah River Site settlement funds, work on the state allocations for the American Rescue Plan, and the bill that would abolish municipal election commissions.

Casey Fields and Scott Slatton discuss the medical marijuana bill and the proposals for allocating state American Rescue Plan funds, including the potential for using ARP money for water systems.

Hear from two veteran political experts from both sides of the aisle to talk about upcoming election cycles. The panel features Reagan Kelley, director of communications and legislative policy for the South Carolina Senate Majority Caucus, and Antjuan Seawright of Blueprint Strategy, LLC. Inman Mayor Cornelius Huff moderates.