Suspending the Requirement to Fund the Local Government Fund

H.3180 would suspend the statutory requirement to fund the local government fund at a rate of 4.5 percent of last year’s general fund revenues. The General Assembly has been shortchanging the local government fund for years in order to retain more funds for statewide initiatives and pet projects. Local governments depend on these funds and when they don’t come local governments either cut back services or seek to raise local taxes and fees. The balance of power in South Carolina is heavily in favor of the General Assembly even without that body depriving local governments of funds that are legally theirs. Citizens should not be deprived of the local government services they pay for, or have to face double taxation in order to receive them. The General Assembly needs to meet its legal obligation and fully fund the Local Government Fund.