Allows rural counties to exceed the millage cap to support fire protection districts.

This bill amends the South Carolina Code to allow the governing body of a rural county to suspend the millage cap to support a fire protection district. This provision applies to rural counties with a population of 70,000 or less as of the 2020 census that lack a full-time fire department fully supported by local fire millage. The suspension must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the county council within one year of the bill's effective date.

Allows rural counties to exceed the millage cap to support fire protection districts.

This bill amends the South Carolina Code to allow the governing body of a rural county to suspend the millage cap to support a fire protection district. This provision applies to rural counties with a population of 70,000 or less as of the 2020 census that lack a full-time fire department fully supported by local fire millage. The suspension must be approved by a two-thirds vote of the county council within one year of the bill's effective date.