The bill H. 4028 proposes an amendment to Section 6-1-320 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, which currently limits millage increases. The amendment allows the governing body of a rural county to suspend this limitation specifically to support a fire protection district. This change is intended to address the challenges faced by rural fire districts in providing adequate services, which often leads to the imposition of fees on citizens. By permitting counties to exceed the millage cap, the bill aims to alleviate the financial burden on residents while ensuring essential fire services are maintained.

Under the new provisions, a rural county council can utilize this suspension once, with a requirement for a two-thirds vote within one year of the amendment's effective date. The increase in the county's overall fire budget cannot exceed two percent compared to the previous tax year. Additionally, any revenue generated from this suspension must first be used to eliminate existing fees related to fire protection before being allocated to support the fire protection district. A "rural county" is defined as one with a population of seventy thousand or less, as per the 2020 census, that lacks a fully supported full-time fire department. The bill will take effect upon the Governor's approval.

Statutes affected:
02/18/2025: 6-1-320
Latest Version: 6-1-320