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. The bill stipulates that a county council can only utilize this provision once, and any increase in the county's overall fire budget cannot exceed two percent compared to the previous tax year.

Additionally, the bill mandates that any increased revenue from the suspension of the millage limitation must first be used to reduce existing fees or charges related to fire protection on a dollar-for-dollar basis. Only after these fees are eliminated can the additional revenue be allocated to support the fire protection district. The definition of a "rural county" is specified as any county with a population of seventy thousand or less, as per the 2020 census, that lacks a fully supported full-time fire department. The act will take effect upon approval by the Governor.

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