Columbia, SC -
The 2007 legislative agenda for South Carolina’s cities and towns reads like a reflection of the priorities supported by business leaders to increase the state’s competitiveness.
“The cities and towns of South Carolina are important economic engines that support the state’s competitiveness efforts,” said Howard Duvall, executive director of the Municipal Association of South Carolina, which represents the state’s cities and towns.
“Strong cities equal a strong economy,” Duvall said. “This year, the elected leadership in South Carolina’s cities and towns will be focused on working with state legislators and business leaders to promote an agenda that builds strong cities to support the state’s competitiveness.”
The 2007 legislative agenda put forth by the Municipal Association of South Carolina centers on three areas: promoting economic growth, enhancing a positive quality of life and encouraging local accountability and fiscal responsibility.
“Every legislative issue we are focused on this session points back to one of these priorities,” said Doug Echols, president of the Municipal Association and mayor of Rock Hill. “And all of these priorities support making the state more competitive.”
Among the specific issues on the Municipal Association’s agenda are comprehensive tax reform to ensure predictability in revenue streams and fairness to businesses and taxpayers, changes to the workers’ compensation statutes to reduce costs, and revisions to laws regulating city boundaries to reflect the realities of today’s patterns of growth and development. As well, the Municipal Association will focus on legislation to combat gang violence, improve the state’s infrastructure and support flexibility on local financial issues.