AN ACT TO AMEND ACT 571 OF 1965, RELATING TO THE DARLINGTON COUNTY MILLAGE LEVY FOR THE FLORENCE-DARLINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE BUDGET TO BE APPROVED BY THE DARLINGTON COUNTY COUNCIL INSTEAD OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION.
Summary
H3952 amends Act 571 of 1965 governing the Darlington County millage levy that supports Florence-Darlington Technical College. The bill changes the local approval process for the college’s annual operating budget by replacing the Darlington County Board of Education with the Darlington County Council as the body that reviews, adjusts, and approves the itemized budget before the county auditor is authorized to levy the tax.
The measure is limited in scope and applies only to the local funding mechanism for Florence-Darlington Technical College. It does not change the tax rate formula itself, but it shifts the decision-making authority over the budget that triggers the levy. The act takes effect upon gubernatorial approval and first applies to Fiscal Year 2025-2026, meaning the new approval process would govern the next budget cycle after enactment.
Impact
The bill would amend a local special law affecting Darlington County’s millage levy for Florence-Darlington Technical College by substituting county council for the county board of education in the budget approval process. As a result, the county council would gain formal authority to examine, adjust, and approve the college’s operating budget, and that approval would continue to serve as the basis for the county auditor to levy the property tax needed to fund the approved budget. The practical effect is a shift in local fiscal oversight and governance, while preserving the existing dedicated funding structure for the technical college.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests broad support for the bill, with the House passing it 106-0. No committee transcript or recorded debate is provided, so there is no evidence of significant opposition in the materials supplied. The unanimous vote indicates the measure was viewed favorably as a technical or administrative update to local governance rather than a controversial policy change.
Contention
The only apparent point of contention, based on the text itself, is the reassignment of budget approval authority from the Darlington County Board of Education to the Darlington County Council. That change could matter to local officials because it alters which governing body controls the annual review and approval of the college’s funding request. However, the provided record contains no recorded objections, amendments, or debate, and the unanimous House vote suggests any disagreement was minimal or absent in the available materials.
Similar To
A BILL TO AMEND ACT 571 OF 1965, RELATING TO THE DARLINGTON COUNTY MILLAGE LEVY FOR THE FLORENCE-DARLINGTON TECHNICAL COLLEGE, SO AS TO REQUIRE THE BUDGET TO BE APPROVED BY THE DARLINGTON COUNTY COUNCIL INSTEAD OF THE COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION, AND TO PROVIDE LIMITATIONS ON THE MILLAGE LEVY AND THE MANNER IN WHICH TAX COLLECTIONS ARE DISTRIBUTED.
A HOUSE RESOLUTION TO CONGRATULATE HARTSVILLE COUNTRY CLUB ON THE OCCASION OF ITS ONE HUNDREDTH ANNIVERSARY AND TO HONOR ITS SIGNIFICANT CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE HARTSVILLE COMMUNITY AND DARLINGTON COUNTY.