Letters: SC Revenue Department threatened minority business participation

The S.C. Department of Revenue’s assault on the Richland County penny tax is an attack on efforts to give small businesses owned by women and minorities an opportunity to compete for the hundreds of millions of dollars that are being spent to operate the bus system and improve roads.

For decades, women- and black-owned companies have been locked out when it comes to getting local government contracts. As white-owned businesses flourished, women- and black-owned businesses struggled to build wealth. The penny tax was passed with the promise that these companies would be given a realistic chance to complete for a piece of the pie.

I’m not advocating giving anyone a handout. I’m advocating giving capable businesses owned by women and minorities a fair chance.

Richland County has a large number of taxpaying black citizens. What’s fair about companies they own being left out as others benefit from public contracts?

Richland County should ensure that all local businesses have an equal opportunity to participate in the procurement process. That’s what the race-neutral small local business enterprise program is about: making the procurement process more inclusive.

The Revenue Department has singled out some black-owned companies, saying they make too much money. Are we to assume that all other companies are working for cheap or free? We know better.