LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC — Lexington County election director Dean Crepes wants a fresh look on the boundaries of the county’s five school districts as a precaution against residency disputes.

His focus comes after a possible mistake in county borders that could lead to the ouster of Lexington-Richland 5 school board member Kim Murphy.

Crepes wants to prevent conflict of a different sort.

He’s concerned that disagreement over taxes and school attendance could arise as neighborhoods continue to sprout in former farm fields.

“It needs to be fine-tuned,” Crepes said of long-standing borders.

The review, he said, could lead to tweaks to ensure accuracy.

Crepes envisions relying on state mapping standards to recheck lines based on markers that are decades old and may no longer exist – as occurred in Murphy’s situation.

School lines were reviewed and updated a decade ago using state guidelines, county geographer Jack Maguire said.

Challenges to current boundaries are virtually unheard of since those adjustments, school officials say.

“We’ve never had any questions on our borders,” Lexington 1 spokeswoman Mary Beth Hill said.

Lexington 1 is home to fast-growing areas and covers nearly half of the 720-square-mile county.

School officials rely on lines set for property taxes, boundaries that state officials say are incorrect in the area around Murphy’s home in the Chapin area causing confusion over whether she actually is a resident of Richland County or Lexington County.

Confusion over taxes and schools occurs mainly in the Irmo-St. Andrews area where county borders run through several apartment complexes, county auditor Chris Harmon said.

“We know it’s complicated in that area,” Maguire said.

Reach Flacha at (803) 771-8483.