As the landscape of local government policy grows and becomes more complex, the Municipal Association of South Carolina’s work to engage in structured polling of South Carolina’s 271 municipalities has emerged as an indispensable tool for making sure that the Association’s advocacy strategies remain grounded in up-to-date and statewide municipal experience.
South Carolina’s cities and towns operate in environments as varied as the state’s geography. Rural communities managing essential services with limited staff capacity, rapidly growing municipalities navigating development pressures and mid-sized and larger cities balancing rising demands for public amenities with the costs of aging infrastructure. Polling provides a way to capture all of these realities.
In recent years, the Association has increasingly incorporated surveys sent out to municipal officials throughout the state, including 15 in 2025, as a critical data gathering tool. The surveys identify emerging concerns, quantify service pressures, and document administrative or fiscal challenges shared across regions and population tiers. This has allowed the Association to develop a more complete, data-driven assessment of municipal needs for state and federal lawmakers.
Strengthening the credibility of municipal advocacy
Increasingly, South Carolina’s legislators have sought empirical data to support policy proposals, funding requests and statutory changes. Whether providing Fiscal Impact Statements to the SC Revenue and Fiscal Affairs Office or responding to direct legislative inquiries that the Municipal Association receives, polling has enabled it to present municipal perspectives with clarity, authority and a unified, evidence-based voice.
During the 2025 legislative session, municipal water and sewer utilities responded to the Association’s request with compelling information on the fiscal and operational impact of these systems. The feedback indicated that the fecal coliform from septic tanks had been observed to seriously damage sensitive coastal ecosystems, up to the point of forcing temporary or permanent closure of oyster beds for harvesting. That input equipped the Association’s advocacy team to successfully oppose proposals in the General Assembly that would have undermined utility operations, and ultimately undermined public and environmental health.
Municipalities also provided critical feedback on issues ranging from juvenile detention and backyard fowl to vinyl siding regulation.
By reporting statewide patterns of city government information — whether on audit compliance, infrastructure funding, public safety recruitment or utility-rate pressures — the Association has been able to demonstrate that its positions reflect broadly shared municipal experience, not simply isolated concerns.
Ensuring representation across all municipalities
One of the Municipal Association’s core responsibilities is ensuring that all of the state’s cities and towns — regardless of size, geography or staffing — are represented in statewide policy discussions. Polling provides an accessible way for every city and town to contribute, helping ensure legislative strategies reflect the full breadth of municipal perspectives and avoiding unintended consequences for smaller communities.
A foundation for long-term engagement
Polling fosters an ongoing dialogue between the Municipal Association and its members. It also helps identify municipality training needs, professional development priorities and technical assistance demands, and helps inform the development of the Association’s conferences and publications. By regularly seeking input from city staff and elected officials, the Association reinforces its commitment to accurate, transparent representation.
Throughout the legislative session and the rest of the year, municipal officials can help by completing requests for information— helping ensure that municipal voices shape the policies that impact South Carolina’s cities and towns.
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