SOUTH CAROLINA REVENUE AND FISCAL AFFAIRS OFFICE
S
TATEMENT OF ESTIMATED FISCAL IMPACT
WWW.RFA.SC.GOV • (803)734-3793
This fiscal impact statement is produced in compliance with the South Carolina Code of Laws and House and Senate rules. The focus of
the analysis is on governmental expenditure and revenue impacts and may not provide a comprehensive summary of the legislation.
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S. 0037
Fiscal Impact Summary
This bill specifies the allowable times when a general election must be set for municipalities and
when the term for the mayor and councilmen will commence after the certification of the
election results. This bill also allows municipalities to transfer the authority for conducting
elections to the county board of voter registration and elections.
This bill will have no expenditure impact to the State Election Commission (SEC) as it
anticipates it will be able to manage any additional responsibilities of this bill within existing
appropriations.
The Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office (RFA) contacted the Municipal Association of South
Carolina (MASC) and all counties to determine the local expenditure impact of this bill. Based
on MASC’s response, the local expenditure impact for municipalities is undetermined,
dependent upon potential legal challenges from those impacted by changes to the length of
elected officials’ terms in office, shifting costs associated with conducting and certifying
elections, and potential savings from fewer legal challenges in localities where commencement
of terms are not currently specified by ordinance. Additionally, based on responses from
Beaufort, Florence, Horry, and Kershaw, the local expenditure impact on counties is expected to
be minimal and managed within current appropriations and may result in a savings if the
standardization of election dates results in fewer total elections.
Explanation of Fiscal Impact
Introduced on January 14, 2025
State Expenditure
This bill specifies the allowable times when a general election must be set for municipalities and
when the term for the mayor and councilmen will commence after the certification of the
election results. This bill also allows municipalities to transfer the authority for conducting
elections to the county board of voter registration and elections.
SEC anticipates it can manage the additional responsibilities due to this bill with existing staff
and within existing appropriations. Therefore, this bill will have no expenditure impact for SEC.
Bill Number: S. 0037 Introduced on Januar
y 14, 2025
Subject: Municipal Elections
Requestor: Senate Judiciary
RFA Analyst(s): Welsh
Impact Date: January 27, 2025
__________________________________
Frank A. Rainwater, Executive Director
DISCLAIMER: THIS FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT REPRESENTS THE OPINION AND INTERPRETATION OF THE
AGENCY OFFICIAL WHO APPROVED AND SIGNED THIS DOCUMENT. IT IS PROVIDED AS INFORMATION TO
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND IS NOT TO BE CONSIDERED AS AN EXPRESSION OF LEGISLATIVE INTENT.
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S. 0037
State Revenue
N/A
Local Expenditure
This bill specifies the allowable times when a general election must be set for municipalities and
when the term for the mayor and councilmen will commence after the certification of the
election results. This bill also allows municipalities to transfer the authority for conducting
elections to the county board of voter registration and elections.
RFA contacted MASC to determine the local expenditure impact for municipalities. MASC
noted that 50 municipalities will be required to amend their current election schedules. MASC
anticipates this bill may result in expenses associated with potential legal challenges from parties
impacted by the extension or abbreviation to the length of terms of seated municipal elected
officials. Additionally, MASC noted that there are only a few municipalities that currently
conduct their own elections. If these municipalities decide to allow their local county board of
voter registration and elections to conduct the municipal elections, there could be an increase in
local expenditures for these municipalities. MASC also noted that the standardization of election
dates and terms of office may result in savings from fewer legal challenges or disruption to local
governance created by contested elections in municipalities where commencement of terms are
not currently specified by ordinance. Therefore, the local expenditure impact for municipalities is
undetermined.
RFA also contacted all counties to determine the local expenditure impact for counties. The
counties of Beaufort, Florence, Horry, and Kershaw provided a response. All respondents
anticipate this bill will have no expenditure impact for their counties and can be managed within
current appropriations. Also, Beaufort and Florence counties anticipate the bill may result in
savings as it standardizes the dates municipal elections are held and will reduce the total number
of separate elections throughout the year.
Local Revenue
N/A