(A) Subject to the requirements of this article, a municipality may impose in the municipality a fee not to exceed one percent for not more than ten years for the purposes provided in Section 4-10-970 by:

(1) an ordinance adopted by a supermajority of the municipal council which must be at least two-thirds of the members of a municipal council; or

(2) the approval of a majority of qualified electors voting in a referendum held pursuant to this section called by a majority of the members of the municipal council.

(B)(1) Upon the adoption of a resolution calling for a referendum by the municipal council, the municipal election commission in each municipality shall conduct a referendum on the first Tuesday ninety days after the adoption of the resolution on the question of implementing the fee within the municipality. The state election laws apply to the referendum, mutatis mutandis. The municipal election commission shall publish the results of the referendum and certify them to the municipal council. The fee must not be imposed in the municipality, unless a majority of the qualified electors voting in the referendum approve the question.

(2) The ballot must read substantially as follows:

"Must a one percent fee on the gross proceeds of sales or sales price of all amounts subject to the sales and use tax imposed pursuant to Chapter 36, Title 12, but not the gross proceeds of the sale of items subject to a maximum tax in Chapter 36, Title 12 and the gross proceeds of sales of unprepared food that lawfully may be purchased with United States Department of Agriculture food coupons, be levied in __________ for the purpose of tourism advertisement and promotion directed at non-South Carolina residents?

Yes []

No []"

(3) If the question is not approved at the initial referendum, the municipal council may call for another referendum on the question. However, following the initial referendum, a referendum for this purpose must not be held more often than once in a twenty-four month period on the Tuesday following the first Monday in November in even-numbered years.

(4) Two weeks before the referendum, the municipal council shall publish in a newspaper of general circulation within the jurisdiction a description of and the uses for the fee.

(C)(1) Upon the adoption of a resolution calling for a referendum to rescind the fee by the municipal council, the municipal election commission shall conduct a referendum in the same manner provided in subsection (B) on the question of rescinding the fee imposed by this section. The state election laws apply to the referendum, mutatis mutandis. The municipal election commission shall publish the results of the referendum and certify them to the municipal council. The fee must be rescinded in the municipality upon the certification of the results if a majority of the qualified electors voting in the referendum vote in favor of rescinding the fee.

(2) The ballot must read substantially as follows:

"Must the one percent local fee levied in __________ pursuant to Section 4-10-930 of the 1976 Code be rescinded?

Yes []

No []"

(3) A referendum for rescission of this fee may not be held earlier than two years after the fee has been levied in the municipality. If a majority of the qualified electors voting in the rescission referendum vote against rescinding the fee, no further rescission referendums may be held for a period of twenty-four months on the first Tuesday following the first Monday in November of even-numbered years. If a majority of the qualified electors vote in favor of rescinding the tax, the fee may not be reimposed in the municipality for a period of two years.

(D) The imposition date of the fee allowed pursuant to this article is the first day of the first month beginning more than sixty days after the municipality files a certified copy of the imposition ordinance or the certification of the results of the referendum with the South Carolina Department of Revenue.

(E) Once a certified copy of the ordinance or referendum results is filed with the Department of Revenue, for the period of imposition provided in that ordinance or referendum, the department may not accept as filed any additional ordinance or referendum results from the municipality that in any way relates to the fee allowed to be imposed pursuant to this chapter except an ordinance or the referendum results reducing or repealing the existing fee. The department shall accept for filing a certified copy of an ordinance or referendum results reducing or repealing the fee and that reduction or repeal applies in the manner provided in Section 4-10-930(D) for imposition.

HISTORY: 2009 Act No. 3, Section 1, eff upon approval (became law without the Governor's signature on April 9, 2009).