Hartsville names McFarland to CPST Commission
By Samantha Lyles, Staff Writer, slyles@newsandpress.net
Hartsville City Council convened a special meeting on Tuesday, March 20, and after an executive session voted to name former City Council member and Mayor Pro Tem David McFarland as the city’s representative on the Darlington County Capital Project Sales Tax (CPST) Commission.
At their March 5 meeting, Darlington County Council unanimously approved Resolution 687 and moved toward preparing a new ‘penny tax’ public referendum by establishing a CPST Commission. This body would draft the actual referendum county voters could see on their November general election ballots, proposing the levy of a one-cent sales tax to finance construction of a new county courthouse.
The CPST commission will include three representatives appointed by municipalities and three representatives appointed by County Council. If the municipalities have not submitted their chosen appointees within thirty days of this resolution’s adoption, the county will choose for them. Due to dual office holding restrictions, elected officials are not eligible to serve on the CPST Commission.
McFarland was notified of his selection after the meeting and reportedly has agreed to serve as the City of Hartsville’s representative.
Members of the CPST commission will review proposals for capital projects within the county – such as new judicial and administrative facilities – and compose a referendum for Darlington County Council to review. Should County Council choose to adopt a one percent sales tax, they would be required to draft an ordinance to that effect and pass three readings and a public hearing. Then the Darlington County Election Commission would place the referendum on the November, 2018 general election ballot for registered county voters to approve or reject.
Also at this special meeting, Hartsville City Council approved the allocation of $2,000 in Accommodations Tax money to help promote the Southeastern Baseball Classic. This year marks the 22nd year that the baseball tournament has been held in Hartsville, and it has grown to include teams from five states. Held from April 3 to April 7, the event regularly books over thirty hotel rooms for teams, and an additional fifty to sixty hotel rooms for families. The estimated city-wide economic impact of the tournament is estimated to be about $100,000 for the week.