IMMEDIATE RELEASE

March 6, 2007

Contact:
Licia Stone 843-665-6704
Lou Vause 843-346-9025


FCCIA PETITION

The Florence County Citizens In Action is encouraging the public to sign a petition to lower and reform the Road Maintenance Fee. FCCIA volunteers, with petitions, will be outside the Piggly Wiggly store on Second Loop Road on March 16 from 12:00 AM - 4:00 PM and March 17 from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM.  Petitions are available everyday at the Florence County Treasurer's Office. Many people sign the petition after paying the mandatory $30 Road Maintenance Fee  

The purpose of the petition is to reduce the road fee to the original $15, prohibit the funneling of 15% of this fee into the council members' nine discretionary funds, and to specify that the funds be spent on road maintenance only.

In 2004, when Florence County was facing a budget shortfall, the Road Maintenance Fee was doubled instead of imposing a proposed countywide business tax. When the protesting business community turned out in mass at a council meeting, Florence County Council instead double the Road Maintenance Fee as a way of increasing revenue to balance the budget.

The annual fee is imposed on all vehicles, motorcycles, and recreational vehicles owned by an individual. The fee is collected at the time the property tax is paid on each vehicle regardless of the number of vehicles owned by the taxpayer. The fee is also imposed on citizens living within the city limits of the various municipalities. None of this money is earmarked for the municipalities. The Road Maintenance Fee monies are deposited in the general fund.  From there 15% of the total is divided between the nine council discretionary funds. The individual councilmen spend this discretionary money without the constraints of a budget or audit.  The discretionary funds are also rolled over each year allowing large sums to accumulate. The remainder of the money is used in funding of the Public Works Department.  The county does not pave roads.  However, this money is used for clearing right-of-ways, cleaning ditches, scraping dirt roads and rocking dirt roads. There is no priority plan for future paving of the numerous dirt roads in Florence County nor for the maintenance of dirt roads.

The Florence County Citizens In Action is petitioning for the reduction of the fee to the original $15, the elimination of 15% of this fee being applied to the discretionary funds, an annual audit of the fee, and a priority plan for maintaining and paving dirt roads. This money belongs to the people. With the help of citizens of Florence County who sign the petition, FCCIA hopes to bring more open government and more fiscal responsibility to Florence County.

FCCIA needs volunteer help with the petition drive. The most important thing you can do is to sign the petition at one of our locations or CALL us at 843-346-9025 and we will mail a petition. Please ask a friend or relative to sign also. The next most important thing you can do is to be a volunteer at one of our petition locations. You can also help by supplying a location. If you have a business or location available to the public, please contact us.  Call Lou Vause 346-9025 to become a volunteer. Help bring responsible government to Florence County.