Lancaster County Newsletter

March 16, 2025

This edition—and the next few months—will focus on budget and tax-related topics. This month, we’ll start with a general budget overview before diving into specific areas like property tax, sales tax, and more in future editions. If you have specific budget or tax topics you'd like covered, just reply to this email.

Want a Speaker for Your Group?

If your HOA, club, or group is interested in having a speaker at your meeting, let me know—I’d be happy to join.

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If you have any questions or concerns about the county, feel free to reach out: 803-804-6017 or simply reply to this email. You can also follow me on Facebook for more updates.

Town Hall Recap

Councilmember Jose Luis (District 7 - Indian Land) hosted a live town hall in February. Here’s the recorded session. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive—stay tuned for another session this summer.

Key Highlights:

📍 0:00 – Jose’s background
📍 5:00 – Indian Land growth statistics
📍 10:00 – Impact fees discussion
📍 15:00 – Costco, regional park updates
📍 17:20 – Identifying important issues and voicing concerns
📍 20:00 – Indian Land vs. South of Hwy 5
📍 22:00 – Start of Q&A session
📍 25:00 – Road funding breakdown

County Collaboration Updates

A key focus for the County Council is improving collaboration with the Lancaster School Board and the City of Lancaster:

📅 March 20 – Joint meeting with the School Board and County Council
📅 April 15 – Joint meeting with the City of Lancaster Council and County Council

These meetings mark the first formal meetings between these groups in a long time.

Budget and Financial Information

Many county residents are interested in how tax dollars are allocated. The county’s fiscal year runs from July 1 to June 30, so upcoming meetings will focus heavily on the 2025-2026 budget, which must pass three readings before the end of June. Click here for the full budget timeline.

2024-2025 Budget Overview
​Click here for 2025/2026 budget

📍 General Fund – $90.6 million
📍 Total Funds (including Capital Projects & Debt Services) – $149.5 million
📍 Projected Property Tax Revenue – $58 million (64% of general budget expenses) – see page 6 for details.
📍 Top General Fund Expenses:

• Public Safety & Law Enforcement: $40 million
• General Government: $28 million
• Public Works: $11 million

📍 Budget Growth Over Time:

• ​2015 General Fund: $41 million | Total Budget: $59 million
• 2024 General Fund: $90.6 million | Total Budget: $149.5 million

📍 County Reserves:

• Best practice suggests keeping 28-32% of the General Fund budget in reserves (~$30 million).
• Lancaster County currently holds $55 million in undesignated reserve funds.

As I navigate my first budget cycle (now in my third month on the council), I’ve noticed that while operational expenses have grown alongside Lancaster County's (Indian Land primarily) population boom, capital projects—like roads, emergency services, and infrastructure—haven’t kept pace. This remains a major challenge.

📍 Audits: The county undergoes a third-party audit each year. See the full 2024 audit report.

📍 Understanding Your Tax Bill: Take a look at your property tax bill and compare it to the "Other Funds" category on page 7 of the 2025 budget to see how funds are allocated countywide.

👉 A notable omission from your real estate tax bill? Road funding. This only appears on vehicle tax bills as a $40 fee.

Next Month’s Focus:

We’ll explore sales tax, state gas tax, and property tax—all key revenue sources for the budget.

Development Updates

📅 Planning Commission Meeting – March 18 – See the agenda for full list

Developments and Re-Zoning

📍 Cresswind by Kolter (521 - across from Walnut Creek)

• ​January Newsletter- Review January Newsletter to catch up on all the details.
• Planning Commission recommended denial in February. The developer has delayed sending this request to Council, so a final decision may not come until July. Stay tuned.

📍 Silver Run Development (Calvin Hall Rd)

• Proposed: 44 residential lots
• ​Project details​

📍 Cogito Academy – Charter School (Shiloh Unity Rd)

• Project Size: 22 acres
• ​Project details​

📍 Blackhall- Hwy 75 going into Waxhaw

• Project Size: 39 acres to General Business
• ​Project details​

📍 Shadow Moss- Hilldale Drive

• Project Size: 52 acres and 100 housing units
• ​Project details​

🏗️ Lancaster County Development Updates:Click here to track ongoing and approved developments across the county. Here are the monthly application reports.

How to Share Your Input

Want to voice your opinion on county issues? Here’s how:

1️⃣ Speak at a County Meeting

• Arrive early and sign up to speak at the door.
• You’ll have 3 minutes to address a topic on the agenda.
• Note: Council members can listen but cannot engage in discussion during public comments.

2️⃣ Submit a Public Comment Electronically

• Comments are recorded as public record and distributed to council members.
• ​Submit your comment here.

3️⃣ Email County Council Members Directly

• These emails are not part of public records but allow direct communication with council members.
• ​View all council members here and see district maps.

📩 Contact Council Members:​
📍 District 1 – Stuart Graham:smgraham@lancastercountysc.gov
📍 District 2 – Charlene McGriff:cmcgriff@comporium.net
📍 District 3 – Billy Mosteller:bmosteller@lancastercountysc.gov
📍 District 4 – Jose Luis:jluis@lancastercountysc.gov
📍 District 5 – Steve Harper:steveharper@lancastercountysc.gov
📍 District 6 – Bryant Neal:bneal@lancastercountysc.gov
📍 District 7 – Bryan Carnes:briancarnes@lancastercountysc.gov

📌 Tips for Effective Public Commenting:​
✔️ Be respectful and concise. Avoid personal attacks.
✔️ State your position clearly (support/oppose) and provide facts.
✔️ Keep it under 3 minutes. You don’t need to be a great speaker—just be direct.

Stay Informed on County Meetings

📬 Want meeting updates in your inbox? Sign up here to receive agendas and documents before each meeting.

📺 Missed a meeting? Watch past sessions here.

Thank you for staying engaged in our community!

Best,​
​Stuart

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Lancaster County Meeting Notes
​​
Here is a resource of Lancaster County Government news including the City of Lancaster
​Recap of February 24th Meeting- Lancaster County Council

​
Lancaster County Council - March 10th, 2025 Meeting Recap
Recorded meeting - Click here​

Highlights: Lancaster County turns 240 years old, Retreat Center use added, Dollar General denied, Keer America fee payment adjusted, budget adjusted to pay for $209k tire “mountain” disposal, $114k request for Bailes Ridge Trail engineering report denied, $900k Rise Lane , Indian Land, and $2.1 million Cleveland Street, Kershaw, road projects ready for bid, bookmobile 2017 van contributed by Comporium ,and Indian Land’s Anne Murphy, Deborah Hagler, and Bruce Cohen appointed to boards .

Council Chairman Brian Carnes opened the meeting by congratulating the Lancaster boys and Andrew Jackson girls basketball teams for winning their state championships.
​Citizens Comments:
1. Logan Hedges, Lancaster, nursing administrator, speaking against Cresswinds development, as the area does not have EMS or hospital beds to support, with current waits of 21 hours in some ER’s for a hospital bed. With lots of barely 1/4 acre and 400 acres unbuildable, wanting the county to pay for its streets, it is unsustainable.
​Special Presentations: Recognition of Lancaster County’s 240th birthday by Asst. Admin. Stephany Snowden, who gave a short history of the importance of cotton, railroads, and textiles, the Indians and Scots Irish heritage.
​Non - Consent:
​A. Amendment to UDO to add a new use of “retreat center “ to the Agricultural and Rural Residence Zones. This was requested by Adam Thomas in order to develop a Christian retreat center in the center of a 300+ acre treed property at 2878 Kendalwood ( E of 521, S of Shiloh Unity towards Buford ). It would have a large event/ central building, with bunkhouses and several cabin/tiny homes to the side next to a pond. It also would serve agribusiness and ecotourism in the county. Passed 7-0.
​B. 1st Reading to rezone 38.83 acres at 6872 Waxhaw Highway from Rural Neighborhood to General Business to open a business park. This is in line with the small business plan for this area adopted in the Panhandle Plan of 2021, for “ office, medical, light industrial and service centers that are clean and quiet “. ( Note: this parcel is across the road near Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church). Passed 7-0.
​C. (This was a surprising one ) 1st Reading and Public Hearing to rezone 2.1 acre property at the intersection of Old Pardue and Camp Creek Roads, from Low Density Residential to Neighborhood Business for the purpose of building a Dollar General. Councilman Harper recused from this vote. Greg Googer the applicant spoke of a need for a convenience/ grocery store in this developing area. Resident Keith Stirling, who lives within sight of this property, said it is not needed as there are several Dollar Generals and a Food Lion within 5 miles. The intersection is already dangerous and it would ruin the historical flavor. Councilman Mosteller also spoke in opposition, as several of his constituents had contacted him that they didn’t want their rural area to be more commercialized at this intersection. Councilman Luis asked the applicant how much fresh produce and meats are typically in a 10000 sf Dollar General. The applicant said more produce was put in the newer stores, but couldn’t give an answer on fresh meat. Luis then stated he had just Googled how many Dollar Generals were in the area and there are indeed 5 within 5 miles of this location. He also stated he was not happy with the applicants use of the words “ coming to YOUR county “ in his explanation as a continuing outside developer, where he would prefer a local developer who would be “ coming in OUR county “. A noticeable hush then came over the room, followed by the vote to DENY by 6-0- 1 ( Harper recusal ), even though planning had voted to approve at their meeting. (Note: Council has the final say, and citizens ARE listened to by their Councilpersons, so continue to contact them. A win for citizens who care tonight)
​D. 1st Reading to amend the fee in lieu for Keer America to adjust payments. Passed 7-0 with no discussion.
​E. 3rd Reading for budget changes for 5 items.
1. Sheriff’s office to use commissary funds to buy equipment to vacuum package and store inmate’s personal clothing and items at time of incarceration.
2. Additional $110k needed to pay for juvenile detention costs in Columbia
3. EMS ambulance overrun of $21k to be paid by impact fees
4. $209k needed to fund Public Works until July , since they had to remove the pile of tires collected from businesses and residents or be fined.
5. $115k engineering fee to study proposed changes to Old Bailes Trail requested by Parks and Rec. Note : the last two items were added at the 2nd Reading without good explanations, which gave the impression they were being “slipped in”. This was a hot item on the agenda. Public Works Director Jeff Catoe was called on to explain further how the tire problem suddenly developed in February. He explained that tires are hauled to US Tire in Concord and they don’t have enough help to get there in a timely manner, so they keep piling up. They were notified they would be fined, so had to get them cleaned up , and the money it cost depleted their funds. Councilmen Graham and Luis questioned how this suddenly became an emergency and Luis asked how long this pile had been growing. The answer was “ since before Covid .” ( Note : Covid lockdown started in March 2020 so this tire pile is over 5 years of accumulation) Catoe said he had had asked for money for this in his previous budgets but it was not included, but they needed the money infused now to cover the costs of running the convenience sites trash removal to landfills until budget year end in July. Discussion then expanded to the Bailes Ridge Trail, and Admin. Marstall said this proposed $114k engineering study cost was given by the firm that was up next in their revolving group of firms. Some on council thought this $114k included the fix, it it was ONLY for the engineering study. Councilman Harper stated that seemed an excessive amount and others agreed after Councilman Luis stated that he had asked for someone in county to meet him at the park to walk it with him, but they had not done that so he walked it himself .( Note: County DID find time to walk it with the engineering firm ) Council then agreed they didn’t need to see the PowerPoint presentation that Parks and Rec had prepared. They felt there was no urgency in this project and if Parks and Rec want it, they can put it in their next budget in July. Council voted to remove it from the list of budget changes at that point. The rest of the list was voted on and it passed in two amended votes of 6-1 and 5-2.
​F. Resolution to accept contribution of a 2017 Ford Van valued at $6500 from Comporium for the purpose of a library bookmobile. It had a ribbon cutting earlier today and will be used to visit nursing homes, assisted living, and remote areas. Passed 7-0.
​G. 1st Reading to amend code for parliamentary procedure in meetings. Councilman Harper was totally against simplifying rules and procedures, as they are important. It was agreed to remove and rewrite and come back at second reading. Passed 7-0.
​Discussion and Action Items :
​A. Removal from various boards. Gregory Scott Edgar to be removed from the Accommodations Tax Advisory Committee since his restaurant closed. Passed 7-0.
​B. Reappointment to boards
1. Library Board : Anne Murray, District 1, and Deborah Hagler, At Large. Passed 7-0.
2. Keep Lancaster County Beautiful Board: Bruce Cohen. Passed 7-0.
​C. Road Projects ready to bid from Capital Sales Tax 2, Rise Lane in Indian Land and Cleveland Street in Kershaw. Jeff Catoe explained that the Kershaw project is where the soybean trucks park and is a long awaited $2.1 million project. Rise Lane has been upgraded to $900k from the original $160k cost since it has to have utilities moved and a water hydrant added. Council debated the Rise Lane excessive increase. Councilwoman McGriff said to spend the money since it’s there, but others questioned why a dead end road with 17 houses cost so much. Councilman Carnes said council had promised to fix the road, but others still had heartburn since CTC had not put it on their list and that extra $$ could go towards other Indian Land roads with much higher traffic counts. Councilman Luis said even though it is in his district, he can not support it for that reason.
Chairman Carnes reminded applicants that info given to council must be complete at the time given, no bits and pieces to be cobbled in later.
​Adjourned at 9:02 to go into Executive Session to discuss potential contractual matters relating to County Fire Service.
Notes to the best of my ability. Photos and notes may not be shared without my permission. Thanks to Den and the other Indian Land regulars who continue to attend. If you are not seeing photos in a sharing of the notes, they are available on my personal Facebook page posts.
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Respectfully submitted,
Clare McConaughay

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