Forecast 2019

What is on Chronicle readers’ minds entering 2019?

• Public utility excessive rates, poor management and state regulation.

• Political corruption and leadership of the legislature.

• Escalating local, state and school taxes.

These concerns were expressed in calls, emails and letters to the Chronicle.

The Public Service Commission’s ruling to charge 727,000 SC Electric & Gas ratepayers to pay off billions of dollars wasted by the utility’s nuclear project deceit and mismanagement was the No. 1 concern.

They were especially upset that House Speaker Jay Lucas told the PSC how they should rule.

Of the entire Lexington County legislative delegation the Chronicle emailed about reader’ concerns, only Rep. Mac Toole responded that he agreed with readers about Lucas’ interference.

Lawsuit plaintiffs and the public are concerned with the SCE&G settlement which appears to reward the lawyers, not their clients with millions in legal fees.

Foes of the PSC ruling are challenging regulators’ decisions that stick ratepayers with higher rates and an out-of-state utility taking over locally managed SCE&G and its owners at Lexington County-based SCANA Corporation.

Tax concerns

Locally, Chronicle readers say they will be watching how the Lexington District 1 board and administrators manage a $365 million bond voters approved in 2018.

The money is supposed to build new and renovate and expand old schools.

This is the result of projected enrollment in fast-growing Lexington, Gilbert and Pelion. But voters turned down District 3’s bid for $90 million to build a new Batesburg-Leesvile High School.

District 1’s Chief Financial Officer John Butler said he won’t know what the interest rates on the bonds will be until they are bid.

Nephron Pharmaceuticals CEO Lou Kennedy, told us that as chair of the SC Chamber of Commerce, she will focus on state tax reform. For more, see her article below.

Readers have expressed a similar concern about the need for impact fees on home builders and new residents to pay for their effect on roads, schools and other governmental services.

The county is growing by 1,000 residents a month.

Good schools, job opportunities and other amenities have made the county one of SC’s fastest growing.

Our estimated population reached 290,642 in 2018 and may exceed 300,000 later this year.

Political corruption

Readers and politicians are waiting to see who Special Prosecutor David Pascoe goes after next.

Sen. John Courson who represented the Irmo-St. Andrews area and Rep. Rick Quinn of Lexington resigned their seats after Pascoe charged them in his corruption investigation.

Both apparently are helping Pascoe gather evidence on other state lawmakers.

Critics have questioned why Pascoe, a long-time Democrat, has found no evidence against lawmakers of his own party.

Gas tax mystery

Readers are concerned with what state officials are doing with their gas tax money. Despite millions in new gas taxes, the state has spent little on Lexington County roads and bridges.

The Department of Transportation is sitting on hundreds of millions of dollars, research by the SC Policy Council found.

Less than $9 million, or 2.7%, of the $324.2 million collected since July 1, 2017, was spent on any projects, few of them in the county.

Yet traffic congestion grows and roads and bridges become increasingly unsafe.