CONWAY, SC (WMBF) Horry County officials worry a new bill moving through the state legislature could have a big impact on county services.
Senate Bill 514 would prevent any county from creating ordinances designed to control waste flow or prevent it from leaving and entering the county.
Mike Bessant, acting as a spokesperson for the Horry County Solid Waste Authority, said the bill would ultimately take away from the county's revenue stream from solid waste, which in turn would take away from public service programs it funds.
"Horry County's waste stream will start leaving the county, and the taxpayers of Horry County would have a tax increase to maintain what we currently do," Bessant explained.
Horry County Spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier said currently, the Horry County Solid waste Authority funds the county's emergency 9-1-1 communications system, emergency hurricane debris clean-up, recycling and recycling education programs.
Bessant said the cost of those programs is about $3.75 million a year, which would likely have to come from increased taxes if the bill passes, on top of rate increases for garbage removal that would likely occur as a result.
"[Customers] could very easily [pay] double what it's costing them for disposal currently," Bessant said.
State Representative Alan Clemmons said he supports the bill, because he believes Horry County currently has a monopoly on waste management.
"It's important to foster free enterprise, which creates competition and the opportunity for business to grow," Clemmons said.
The House and Senate version of the bill are both currently being reviewed in subcommittees, but county officials say there could be a vote on the issue as early as March.
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