by Mike McMillan
Originally Published in the GREENVILLE JOURNAL on February 25, 2022
The Upstate Chamber Coalition (UCC) laid out its policy agenda for 2022 working to push for favorable legislation at the Statehouse after a year that was marked by relative inaction.
Jason Zacher, executive director of UCC, Nikki Crabtree Huber and contract lobbyist, Taft Matney have been working in Columbia on behalf of Upstate businesses.
“We’ve got a heck of a team, I think,” Zacher said.
Taxes a target
In 2022, the UCC has its target set on income tax reform. South Carolina is sitting at a 7% income tax rate, while neighboring states in the region like Georgia and North Carolina have tax rates around 4%.
“We’ve gotta get our income tax rate down,” Zacher said.
The group also wants to see fair legal reforms passed, which involve the Fair Share Act. Zacher said this is a major need because current law allows for individuals or companies to be sued in the event of a wreck with a company vehicle or a product liability case. They’re also pushing for legislation that would reform criminal justice, including expungement for nonviolent offenses to allow for more workers looking for in-demand careers, and institute hate crimes legislation.
Zacher said the state’s recruiting incentives are outdated and were written for 20th century manufacturing. The UCC’s suggestion was to add office incentives for companies to locate their staff here, saying the infrastructure needs are minimal.
The UCC is also pushing for teacher pay to be on par with the national average, which is $60,477, according to the National Education Association, and improve educational attainment for students through relieving the tuition burden. “The new economy is information-based,” Zacher said.
The state is paying out $4 million and taking in $3 million with $25-$26 million in its pension system. Zacher said the UCC’s policy is for the state close the pension system to new employees, replacing it with a 401(k) plan.
The UCC is also pushing to see improvements to infrastructure, like adding water, sewer and road improvements, and finishing the Port of Charleston expansion.
“We have a chance to really, really change the infrastructure of this state,” Zacher said.
Upstate-specific improvements
Locally, the UCC is pushing for sustainable funding for infrastructure, outside of one-time stimulus bills.
A Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) needs to be passed, and Greenville County’s sitting on it, Zacher said. The UDO, according to the county, will combine zoning ordinance and land development regulations as well as other ordinances and documents for Greenville County into a single document in hopes of improving zoning and land development standards.
The UCC is also pushing for completion of a new downtown Greenville conference center in anticipation on more in-person events happening. He said opportunities for new companies moving to the area and possible events in Greenville will be missed if that project does not move forward.
Zacher also said digital infrastructure needs to be updated, as many parts of Greenville County don’t have reliable broadband internet.
UCC policy agenda for 2022
Local issues
- Sustainable funding source for infrastructure
- Pass the Unified Development Ordinance
- Ensure completion of a conference center
- Finish key infrastructure projects
- Aggressively seek development of digital infrastructure
- Address race-based disparities in education, income and health
Statewide issues
- Improving the business climate
- Boosting economic development and infrastructure
- Increasing educational attainment and talent acquisition
- Reforming the criminal justice system
- Improving the state’s fiscal health
- Income tax reform
- Reasonable, fair legal reforms
- Recruiting incentives
- Addressing pension crisis
- Transformative infrastructure funding — broadband, water, ports, sewer, roads
Unfinished business
- Finish the Port of Charleston expansion
- Tax credit for returning citizens
- Higher education efficiency act
- Immigrant licensure
- Hate crimes legislation
- Drug weights legislation
