The city of North Augusta may have a helping hand in Columbia, S.C. when the General Assembly convenes in 2022. Council members are expected to vote during their regular meeting to hire a legislative lobbyist.
City Administrator Jim Clifford brought the resolution to council’s Nov. 8 study session. It calls for hiring a lobbyist to represent the city before the General Assembly as well as state government agencies.
“As we look forward to Department of Energy settlement money, state ARPA money, and also just general fund surpluses at the state level, we believe this will be helpful,” Clifford explained. “So, it’s to make sure that we have advocacy at that level. And to make sure that North Augusta projects and initiatives have the right kind of daylight on them.”
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He said they’ve discussed this with Representative Bill Hixon, R-District 83, and it will not conflict with work done in the General Assembly on behalf of the city.
“It would not be unusual for a city like North Augusta to hire lobbyists to go and be that very vigilant, on the ground advocate for the SRS settlement money, for instance,” said Scott Slatton, director of advocacy and communications at the Municipal Association of South Carolina.
Other cities have lobbyists on retainer, just to have a presence at the State House, to advise their councils on legislation and to do city specific projects at the State House.
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South Carolina is getting $525 million in settlement money. The money, originally $600 million until $75 million was paid to the attorneys, stems from the Department of Energy’s failed mixed oxide fuel fabrication that was to be built at SRS along with the weapons grade plutonium that was brought to the state to be converted into fuel pellets for reactor fuel assemblies.
Myrtle Beach, Charleston and Greenville are among the other municipalities with a legislative lobbyist.
If approved at the Nov. 15 meeting, the city would hire a lobbyist for $24,000 on a one-year contract.
Dana Lynn McIntyre is a Staff Reporter with The Augusta Press. You can reach her at dana@theaugustapress.com
