The Municipal Association of SC Small Cities Summit takes place Wednesday, August 13, in Columbia to cover many issues most relevant to small cities and towns.
The Association will give registration preference to those municipalities whose population is fewer than 3,000 residents. The one-day meeting will feature conference sessions and a lunch.
Here’s some of what’s in store for the day:
- Forms of government roles and responsibilities – South Carolina law provides three forms of municipal government: the council form, mayor-council form, and council-manager form. While the council has the same legislative role in each, there are key differences among them in how mayors, and potentially managers or administrators, operate.
- Effective financial management and internal control policies – Well-organized finances are a key part of a smoothly-operating municipality, while internal control policies can help detect fraudulent activity occurring among employees or officials.
- Business licensing schedule updates – The Business License Tax Standardization Act of 2020 established ongoing steps that cities and towns in South Carolina must undertake to keep their business licensing practices compliant with state law. One of the ongoing requirements involves cities updating their class schedules every odd-numbered year, including 2025.
There will also be an “Agency Hall,” where local officials can learn about the services of various state agencies, and a lunchtime panel discussion to address small-city governance questions that attendees submit in advance.
The registration deadline for the Small Cities Summit is August 1. There is a hotel block at the Hilton Columbia Center at 924 Senate St. with a rate of $179 and a deadline of July 13. The meeting will take place at the Columbia Metropolitan Convention Center, located at 1101 Lincoln St.