Anderson County, South Carolina
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Anderson County is one of 46 counties in South Carolina. In 2000, its population was 173,500; in 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimated that its population had reached 175,514. Its county seat is Anderson.
Named for Revolutionary War leader Robert Anderson, the county is located in northwestern South Carolina, along the Georgia border. Anderson County contains 55,950-acre Lake Hartwell, a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers lake with nearly 1,000 miles of shoreline for residential and recreational use. The area is a growing industrial, commercial and tourist center.
This Web site was reviewed April 13, 2012.
[edit] Website evaluation
- Main article: Evaluation of South Carolina county websites
[edit] The good
- Council members are listed with individual contact information and meeting schedule, minutes, and agendas available.[1]
- Financial audits and budgets available.[2]
- Zoning information[3] and building permits available.[4]
- Administrative officials listed under respective departments.
- The contract bidding process is online.[5]
- Tax assessments and other tax information is available online.[6][7] The tax levy information was updated on Oct. 1, 2010.[8]
- Information on how to make a public records request is provided on the site.[9]
- Lobbying statistics and information are posted on activities from 2002 to 2008.[10]
[edit] The bad
- Approved contracts and their values are not disclosed.
[edit] Website upgrade
The County updated its website in June of 2009. The website took additional steps by posting their checkbook register and credit card accounts.[11] Comptroller Eckstrom has also offered online space for small cities and counties to upgrade their websites by putting this type of information on his own Web site, to remove cost as an obstacle.[12] The town of Irmo and Eckstrom signed up to also get the upgrade.
The county has also entered competing with 15 other counties in the state for best project during the annual South Carolina Association of Counties conference.
"Anderson County is looking back to our roots: a government of the people, by the people, for the people and we want to go a step further and bring it to the people. We want to change the conversation from what it has been --inherent distrust of government since pretty much the beginning of government--to how we can work together." said Angie Stringer, public information director.[13]
In 2011, the Anderson County earned a Sunny Award for having a perfect website transparency score.
[edit] Freedom of Information forum
In March of 2010, Anderson County help a Freedom of Information forum. Interium county administrator Rusty Burns, Jay Bender, attorney for the South Carolina Press Association, Senator Kevin Bryant-R and Sunshine Review's Kristinpedia were on the panel.[14]
[edit] Elected Officials
[edit] City Council
Anderson County has a Council/Administrator form of government. The Council members are elected to their positions and appoint an Administrator to oversee the progress and vision of the County.[1]
| Member | Title | District |
|---|---|---|
| Francis Crowder, Sr. | Council Member | District 1 |
| Gracie Floyd | Council Member | District 2 |
| Eddie Moore | Vice-Chair | District 3 |
| Tom Allen | Council Member | District 4 |
| Tommy Dunn | Chairman | District 5 |
| Ken Waters | Council Member | District 6 |
| M. Cindy Wilson | Council Member | District 7 |
[edit] Administrative Officials
The roles of the County Administrator are listed as:[15]
- Serves as chief administrative officer for the County
- Executes the policies, directives, and legislative actions of the County Council
- Directs and coordinates the operations of the County
- Prepares annual operating and annual budgets for the Council
- Requires such reports, estimates, and statistics from County departments and agencies
- Supervises expenditures of appropriated funds
- Prepares financial and administrative reports for the Council
- Administers County personnel policies, including salary and classification plans approved by Council
- Employs and discharges County personnel, subject to Council appropriation of funds for that purpose
- Performs other duties as required by Council
[edit] Budget
The 2010 budget went through an additional round of public meetings and functioned off the 2009 budget until the new budget was finally approved during its third reading on July 20, 2010.[16] The final budget is being compiled and prepared for print and for submission to the GFOA for the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award. In October the final budget was posted online.[17]
[edit] Lobbying
- Main article:South Carolina taxpayer-funded lobbying
Anderson County has reported $706,496 in lobbying expenditures between 2002 and 2008. During that time the received $8 million dollars in federal money and $1.3 million in state funds with most of the money going towards transportation projects.[13] In 2009, the county was no longer employing lobbyists or any lobbying organizations to raise money for the county, but still belongs to the South Carolina Association of Counties, which does engage in taxpayer-funded lobbying.[13]
