Phone call paves way for Richland County tax hike

It took a phone call to an absent member for Richland County Council to settle on a new spending plan Monday that means taxpayers will dig a little deeper into their wallets.

The $154.2 million package approved for the year starting July 1 includes a property tax increase estimated at $6.65 on a home valued at $100,000. Stores, industry and other businesses will pay more in varying amounts.

The increase comes on top of fee hikes on water, sewage, telephone and other utility services adopted by Columbia officials as well as sizable school tax hikes.

The plan won adoption after Councilman Damon Jeter called in as requested to break a 5-5 tie.

“I’m going down I-20 holding my hand aye,” Jeter said in a cellphone call broadcast so the 10 other council members could hear.

He was contacted while en route to an unspecified appointment after leaving early from a session that ended after seven hours.

Some – but not all – county residents also will pay more so firefighters get a pay raise.

Their monthly fee for fire protection is slated to double to $2 for residents of unincorporated areas who receive water from Columbia. City leaders must sign off on the step.

The deadlock over approval of the spending plan came after council members added $3.3 million in increases to the package, prompting the tax hike.

“It’s just a little bit too much” on top of other tax and fee increases coming, Councilman Greg Pearce said.

Other council members said the county tax hike stems primarily from cuts in state aid imposed by the Legislature.

“We had to deal with that,” Councilman Jim Manning said.

The tax hike approved is three-fourths of the maximum of $8.80 on a $100,000 home allowed by the state tax cap.

Other decisions by council members Monday include:

▪ Designating an annual property tax of $2 on a $100,000 home for economic development efforts aimed at bringing in jobs. “If we want to be competitive, we’ve got to pay the price,” Councilman Paul Livington said.

▪ Testing a plan to ease jail overcrowding by paying magistrates extra to hold bond hearings around-the-clock.

▪ Sticking with the current health insurance coverage for county workers even though it is more expensive than alternatives to ease the financial strain for most county workers who don’t get a pay raise. An unexpected increase in property tax revenue will help pay for it.