SUMMARY: Voters in Georgetown County will face two proposed 1% sales tax referendum questions on their ballots. The first seeks to fund specific capital projects, generating about $10 million annually for eight years to enhance health, safety, and quality of life. A citizen committee identified 22 primary projects, including a new 911 center and community sewer installations. The second referendum aims to introduce a local option sales tax (lost) expected to yield another $10 million yearly, primarily reducing property taxes for residents. If approved, the taxes will begin in May 2025, raising the total sales tax rate from 6% to 8%.
In June, Georgetown County Council approved two referendum questions, which will ask voters if two 1% sales taxes should be collected.
County leaders said it’s an effort to shift some of the tax burden from residents to visitors.
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www.thecentersquare.com – By Frank Berte | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-03-28 11:12:00
(The Center Square) – At a U.S. House Oversight and Government Reform hearing, Rep. William Timmons R-S.C., discussed what he said are the dangers of increased government spending, saying that America’s $36 trillion debt and $1.8 trillion annual deficit are unsustainable for the country.
Timmons stressed the importance of bipartisan fiscal scrutiny, stating that all government expenditures, specifically defense and public broadcasting, must be evaluated. He also pointed to the internet’s reshaping of media consumption and closer social interconnectedness as factors in reexamining federal funding.
“We have an existential threat. We cannot continue down this path financially,” Timmons stated during the hearing.
Watch the full video here:
Rep. Timmons (R-SC) speaks in the a U.S. House Oversight and Government reform hearing about government spending
SUMMARY: Several wildfires are ongoing in the Carolinas, notably the rapidly spreading Table Rock Complex Fire, which has consumed over 4,500 acres, and the Persimmon Ridge Fire, affecting over 1,500 acres. These fires have been prioritized for federal firefighting resources, allowing for increased containment efforts. Crews are engaging in difficult hand-built containment due to debris from Hurricane Helene blocking heavy equipment access. In North Carolina, 500 firefighters are working on various fires, including the Black Cove fire at 3,288 acres (17% contained). A state of emergency has been declared in Haywood County due to multiple uncontrolled wildfires.
SUMMARY: U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham and Tom Cotton introduced the Cellphone Jamming Reform Act of 2025 to allow state prisons to use cellphone jamming technology to block contraband phones. The South Carolina Department of Corrections (SCDC) has long advocated for this technology to prevent inmates from engaging in illegal activities like ordering hits, dealing drugs, and facilitating trafficking. Despite its prohibition, contraband phones continue to be a problem. The technology could ensure 100% prevention, compared to the current 70% solution. However, concerns over potential interference with emergency calls have slowed its implementation at state levels.
