“Your word is your bond.” Melvyn Douglas, an American actor, is credited with this well-known quote, which demonstrates the value and significance of keeping your word.
Nearly 22 years ago in 1995, the Dillon County Council gave their word to the Dillon County Schools, to the voters of Dillon County, and to the people of Dillon County in a 6-0 vote that if the voters chose to vote in favors of the Local Option Sales Tax that they would divide the county’s portion with the Dillon County Schools. They also agreed to use the county portion only for capital improvements and went on record that its share would not be used for growth of government or administrative costs.
Though the measure had failed just five years earlier, the promise that the schools would receive a division of funds and other promises of council must have swung the voters, and the Local Option Sales Tax passed with an overwhelming 3-1 margin.
Fast forward to 2017. The Dillon County Council has been struggling with budget issues. The first reading of the budget passed. There was a shortfall in the budget to deal with and more work was needed to balance the budget.
A budget was proposed where the schools would no longer receive a portion of the Local Option Sales Tax funds that the council voted in 1995 to give the schools. These funds would then become a part of Dillon County Council’s budget.
On Tuesday, we spoke to the county administrator at which time he stated that at that time he was not comfortable that the school was an authorized designated expense of the Local Option Sales Tax money.
We are not here to debate whether it was or is an authorized or unauthorized expense or the legalities of the matter as admittedly, we do not know; however; if council proceeds with this current course of action, it is likely that these issues will be worked out by lawyers and courts at some future time. No one can foresee what the future holds.
What we are here to say that while in the end, council’s action may be found to be legal, it certainly isn’t right. Council should look for other ways to achieve a balanced budget or find a way to honor what the previous council promised the people would happen by diverting other funds of the same amount or whatever it takes to make the previous council’s word good. They should honor the pledge that invariably influenced how voters cast their ballots when they voted the tax in. They should honor the council’s word. Perhaps Brian Tracy stated it best when he said that “Integrity is the most valuable and respected quality of leadership. Always keep your word.”
However, if four members or more of council deem that this is the necessary and correct action to take and then take no further action to replace the funds or make it right, let’s take a minute to consider what they are doing. If they vote to approve the budget that passed second reading or a similar budget in which the schools no longer receive the money, the councilmen who vote for this version of the budget will be voting for a version which will cause the largest employer in Lake View not to receive the money that they have been receiving, will be voting for a version which will cause the largest employer in Latta not to receive the money that they have been receiving, and in essence, voting to raise your taxes. Yes, voting to raise your taxes. Whether they raise taxes by their own hand or force the school board to raise taxes, it is their action that is causing the tax increase.
That is what makes the councilmen who voted to pass this second reading of the budget particularly surprising. Chairman Archie Scott and Councilman Robbie Coward have been very vocal in past times about not raising taxes. However, passing this version of the budget will likely force the school board to raise taxes—a situation that will be created by voting for this version of the budget. It may not be done by their hand, but it will be done by their action. Councilman Coward and Councilman Jack Scott will be voting for a version of the budget that will cause the largest employers in Latta and Lake View to no longer receive the money that they have been receiving. Coward has a portion of the Latta area in his district and J. Scott has Lake View in his district.
Big things are on the horizon for Dillon County. The Inland Port is coming and other industries are on the way. We need an educated workforce. Our schools do not need less money if anything they need more to help prepare our students to fill the highly skilled jobs that Dillon County has worked very hard to and made a significant investment to bring.
If our students aren’t ready to take the jobs and keep the money in Dillon County, the economic impact of the county’s efforts will not be as great by any means.
This is a time when we need our county council, school boards, and municipal councils working together. We don’t need an unnecessary battle between our decision makers. We need to come together and work together for the good of all concerned.
Our leaders have a choice to make that will affect all of us.
Are we all going to work together to be “Alive On 95” when industry and economic progress comes or are we going to be in a squabble with each other and be “dead on arrival”?