Liz Duda Around York County

10/21/2026

Nice recap of the “Investing in Rural America” conference hosted by the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond in partnership with the Federal Reserve System and Rural LISC. I was gratified to attend this event focused on “the strength of rural places.”

“Throughout the conference, one message came through clearly: rural prosperity depends on local solutions, strong partnerships, and creative approaches to deploying capital. The conversations demonstrated the importance of bringing together residents, financial institutions, government agencies, educational institutions, and community organizations to address local priorities.”

Folks couldn’t stop talking about Professor Raj Chetty’s keynote throughout the conference. I look forward to hearing the follow up Speaking of the Economy podcast by the Richmond Fed.

If you haven’t attended any events the Richmond Fed hosts for the public (Charlotte office or elsewhere), check them out!

Views I express are mine alone and not intended to represent those of my employer.

(Link in comments.)

10/21/2026

I was researching what York County is doing related to the need for a new transportation committee and came across this clear explanation of the law and implications in York County. (I don’t know the source but am now following this page.)

Transportation is important!

Broken record here: I wish the RFATS Policy Committee (our regional transportation committee for the more urbanized areas) would record its meetings as I have had to miss the last two. I’m interested and I’m not even on the committee!

🏛️ THE CIVIC LENS EXPLAINS
Understanding New State Laws
Who Decides Which Roads Receive Certain Transportation Funds in York County, SC?

A new South Carolina law is changing how certain county transportation decisions are made.

On May 18, 2026, Governor Henry McMaster signed Act 177, which makes changes to the governance of certain transportation funds commonly known as "C Funds." These funds are administered through the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) and may be used for eligible road, bridge, and transportation improvement projects.

For York County, this law changes who helps oversee and prioritize these transportation dollars.

🚧 What Changed?

Under Act 177:

✅ York County will have a County Transportation Committee (CTC) responsible for overseeing certain transportation planning and C Fund priorities.

✅ The committee must include fair representation from municipalities and unincorporated areas of the county.

✅ The committee must develop and publish a countywide transportation plan with criteria for selecting projects.

✅ The committee must comply with public meeting and transparency requirements.

✅ County councils may no longer serve as the County Transportation Committee.

💰 What Are "C Funds"?

"C Funds" are transportation dollars distributed by the South Carolina Department of Transportation for eligible local transportation projects.

These funds may be used for projects involving:

🛣️ Road improvements

🌉 Bridges

🚦 Traffic safety

🚧 Other eligible transportation infrastructure

York County receives an annual allocation based on a formula established in state law.

🏘️ Why Does This Matter?

York County is one of South Carolina's fastest-growing counties.

As our communities continue to grow, so do our transportation needs.

Supporters of the law say these changes are intended to:

✔ Increase transparency

✔ Strengthen oversight of certain transportation funds

✔ Ensure representation from municipalities and unincorporated areas

✔ Create a more structured, countywide transportation planning process

✔ Establish objective criteria for selecting projects

⚖️ What Does This Not Mean?

This law does not automatically:

❌ Build more roads

❌ Increase transportation funding

❌ Speed up construction projects

❌ Change ownership or maintenance responsibilities for roads

Instead, it changes how certain transportation funding decisions are governed and planned.

💡 Did You Know?

One of the most significant changes under Act 177 is that county councils can no longer serve as the County Transportation Committee.

Instead, a separately appointed committee will oversee certain C Fund transportation responsibilities for the county.

📍 Civic Action Step

Take a few minutes to learn:

What "C Funds" are and how they may be used.
Who serves on your County Transportation Committee once appointments are made.
How transportation projects are prioritized.
How residents can stay informed about future transportation planning meetings and decisions.

Understanding who makes decisions is just as important as understanding what decisions are made.

💬 Join the Conversation

What are your thoughts about this change?

Do you thing creating a separate Country Transportation Committee will improve transparency and long-term transportation planning?

Or do you think it could create new challenges for local decision-making and accountability?

How do you think this change will affect York County, SC?

Share your thoughts or questions in the comments. Your questions may help share future The Civic Lens posts as we continue explaining how government works.

Let's keep the conversation respectful, thoughtful, and focused on understanding the issues.

📖 The Civic Lens

The Civic Lens explain how government works so residents can better understand the decisions that shape their communities.

Follow The Civic Lens for nonpartisan civic education that makes local and state government easier to understand.

10/21/2026

10/21/2026

Thanks to the city for this 10/19/2026 recap and reminder that we can watch the replay on YouTube.

My observations from below (I haven’t listened to the meeting yet):

The Catawba-Wateree Water Management Group’s Integrated Water Resources Plan is hugely important to our region to ensure that we have the quantity and quality of water that we rely on. Sign up for the Citizens Water Academy - I enjoyed that training! https://www.catawbawatereewmg.org/citizens-water-academy

Chief Crosby and the TCPD are working hard and creatively to meet our community needs.

I’m happy for Cameron Creek residents who expressed that they were not receiving the same services as other Tega Cay residents (back when I was campaigning at the start of 2026) as it sounds like the city is working with them now to meet their needs.

I’m glad to see there were four bidders for the street patching RFP as competition is important.

Council made the decision to cull, surely resulting in some satisfied and some dissatisfied residents.

🏛️ City Council Recap
Missed last night’s City Council meeting? Here’s a quick look at what happened, including an Integrated Water Resources Plan presentation, new TCPD programs, a yard debris agreement with Cameron Creek, the street patching bid, and the Wildlife Management Plan.

📺 Watch the full meeting: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pE42qr22Q9Q

10/20/2026

Congratulations to The South Carolina Forum. I enjoyed being part of the multipartisan feedback sessions when they were in Rock Hill and look forward to seeing how it turns out.

10/18/2026

In tomorrow's city council meeting (10/19/2026, 6pm), of interest to many residents (particularly on the peninsula) - council will discuss the 2026 Deer Spotlight Survey Results and other deer data collected over the last year. Certainly council will welcome your input!
From the city https://www.tegacaysc.org/1857/Deer-Spotlight-Survey-Results

And from the "Wild About Deer" community group, the "Spotlight survey demonstrates population stability and no complaints from residents, so we are advocating for a “pause year” this winter (because culling is being considered) ….and resuming the sterilization project next fall (to keep the same ratio of tagged deer, which is important for continued program success. Targeting the deer on the far “fingers” of the peninsula where the density is highest and sterilization is the only option.) We are trying to get as many people as possible to SHOW UP and encourage council that #1 the project is working, #2 let’s take a pause year, #3 no culling, #4 sterilization next fall." Learn more from About Deer (also a Facebook group) at https://wildaboutdeer.com/

🏛️ City Council Meeting
📅 Monday, October 19th at 6:00 PM
📍 Philip T. Glennon Center – Council Chambers
15077 Molokai Drive, Tega Cay, SC

Council will hear a presentation on the Integrated Water Resources Plan for TCUD, take public comments, and consider a yard debris collection agreement, a street patching bid, and the proposed Wildlife Management Plan of Action for FY 2026-2027.

📄 Agenda: https://www.tegacaysc.org/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/_10192026-699

10/17/2026

I spent a joyful weekend reconnecting with my Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth ‘01 classmates at our 25th reunion. And I tied it into visiting my former campaign manager’s (a.k.a., son’s) new undergrad dorm room! Other highlights were a tour of the newly renovated Hood Museum and reception at the Top of the Hop, and leaf season!

Coincidentally the week prior, at the Investing in Rural America conference I attended in Asheville, NC, the Boston Fed President talked about the housing shortage in the Upper Valley of NH/VT. I learned more about it from Tuck admin in NH and my cousin who works at a VT nonprofit which is impacted by this concern.

10/17/2026

Sign up to serve York County elections as a Poll Managers:
• Support democracy
• Ensure elections are secure
• Guide voters through the voting process
• Serve on Election Day
• Make new friends
• AND get paid!
Visit https://apply-staging.electassist.com/south-carolina/york to get started.

10/16/2026

I’m inspired and impressed by all I am learning through Leadership South Carolina - including at Trident Technical College, South Carolina Ports Authority, and St. Christopher Camp & Conference Center.