WINNSBORO – Fairfield County is one meeting away from enacting a pair of tourism-related taxes aimed at growing tourism and combating blight. Council members voted unanimously Monday night on two ordinances – a 3 percent tourism development fee and a 2 percent hospitality tax. The council also passed second reading of an ordinance establishing a […]
Authority maps megasite infrastructure
March 21, 2019 By
WINNSBORO – Now that the initial paperwork is mostly finished, Fairfield County’s water and sewer plan is flowing closer to completion. At the second meeting of the Fairfield Joint Water and Sewer Authority on Monday, the group received detailed reports covering everything from environmental impacts, roads to laying water and sewer pipes. “They’re not in […]
Auditor: County managed well
March 14, 2019 By
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County did well managing its finances following the nuclear plant and hospital closings, but faced challenges over rising retirement costs, the county’s annual audit states. “In our opinion we think the county is in good financial position as of June 30, 2018,” said Brian D’Amico, an auditor with Elliott Davis, at Monday […]
Joint water authority board sets sail
March 7, 2019 By
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County is gathering all the trappings to lure big industry and with it, more jobs. It has interstate access, a megasite roughly equidistant between Columbia and Charlotte and a $2 million state grant targeting infrastructure for that site. Now the county and town have created a joint water authority – the Fairfield […]
County considering A-Tax, H-Tax
February 28, 2019 By
WINNSBORO – New taxes and fees aimed at sprucing up Fairfield County’s tourism and business image received unanimous support at Monday night’s county council meeting. Council members approved 5-0 the first reading of three draft ordinances which if approved, would institute a tourism development fee, a hospitality fee and a business registration fee. Council members […]
Council eyes fee for county businesses
February 28, 2019 By
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County leaders say that a proposed business registration fee is about getting a more accurate count of businesses operating in the unincorporated areas of Fairfield County. “It’s not based on the revenue of the business. It’s not based upon the sales, income or number of employees, whether you have one employee or […]
Water authority becoming reality
February 14, 2019 By
WINNSBORO – It’s been years since Fairfield county and municipal leaders first floated a concept of a regional water and sewer authority. Now that its composition has been finalized, the group plans to chart new waters as it attempts to define and fulfill its mission of enhancing economic development in Fairfield County. “Industry absolutely has […]
County approves new industry, rehab company
January 31, 2019 By
WINNSBORO – Fairfield County kicked off 2019 by finalizing a major economic development project and leasing the rehabilitation center on the Fairfield Memorial Hospital campus. County Council members voted unanimously Monday night on final approval of a fee-in-lieu of taxes, or FILOT, agreement for MLily, a Chinese-owned mattress company set to launch operations this year […]
Ready to Serve
January 17, 2019 By
WINNSBORO – Four County Councilmen were sworn into office during a 5 p.m. special session Monday evening. Re-elected to office for a second term were Douglas Pauley (District 6) and Mikel Trapp (District 2), both in the center. Clarence Gilbert, left, (District 7) and Moses Bell, right, (District 1) were newly elected. Councilman Neil Robinson […]
Taylor: It was a very good year for Fairfield
January 2, 2019 By
2019 Review: New Industries Brought Jobs, Investment to Fairfield County WINNSBORO – A year and a half ago, a Lowcountry newspaper lamented Fairfield County’s double digit unemployment. What a difference a couple of years has made. Today, the county’s unemployment rate has shrunk to 3.1 percent and, according to County Administrator Jason Taylor, industrial prospects […]
