City Quick Connect Podcast from the Municipal Association of South Carolina

The Municipal Association’s IMPACT Fund, powered by VC3, offers $25,000 Problem Solver Grants and $100,000 Big Idea Grants. Jake Broom and Sara Whitaker talk about the cities and towns that received funding in 2025, and what local leader should know when they are applying for 2026 funding ahead of the September 25 deadline.

More information: www.masc.sc/impact-fund

The Municipal Association’s Small Cities Summit, taking place August 12, is aimed at addressing the needs and challenges of smaller cities and towns. The Association’s Executive Director Todd Glover and Deputy Executive Director Jake Broom talk about conference sessions that will cover financial management topics, as well as the opportunities to connect with state and federal agencies at the meeting.

Learn more: www.masc.sc/2026-small-cities-summit

Web accessibility requirements for cities and towns under the Americans with Disabilities Act are nothing new. However, legal requirements for accessibility will go into effect in April 2027 and April 2028, depending on the municipality’s population. Kevin Benson of VC3 discusses what city officials need to know.

More information: https://www.ada.gov/resources/2024-03-08-web-rule/

In 2026, the General Assembly passed laws making numerous changes to municipal elections, including standardizing election days, limiting municipal election commissions to larger cities, and limiting dates for special elections. Municipal Association General Counsel Eric Shytle and Associate General Counsel Sara Weathers discuss the impacts.

South Carolina municipalities use one of three forms of government: the council form, mayor-council form and council-manager form. Municipal Association General Counsel Eric Shytle and Associate General Counsel Sara Weathers discuss the division of administrative powers in each of the forms, and common questions about how they work.

Learn more in the updated Forms and Powers of Municipal Government Handbook: https://www.masc.sc/sites/default/files/uploads/administration/forms-and-powers2.pdf

Casey Fields and Jake Broom discuss the statewide primaries that occurred June 9, including the office of governor, where the race for the Republican nominee went to a runoff; as well as other constitutional officers. They also discuss primary races for the U.S. Senate, U.S. House and the SC House.

Municipal Association Executive Director Todd Glover and Deputy Executive Director Jake Broom preview the 2026 Annual Meeting, taking place in Greenville on July 15 – 19. Sessions will cover community and economic development, data centers, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, legislative advocacy, as well as forms of government and meeting management.

Learn more: www.masc.sc/2026-municipal-association-sc-annual-meeting

Casey Fields and Jake Broom discuss the SC House and Senate being called back by the governor to debate congressional redistricting, what it could mean for voting processes in the upcoming primary elections, and how district maps could impact cities and towns.

Casey Fields and Jake Broom cover the end of the regular 2025 – 2026 legislative session, including activity on the adjournment resolution, congressional redistricting, the bill addressing a property tax loophole and the conference committee report on the SC Department of Transportation modernization bill.

At nearly the end of the legislative session, Casey Fields and Jake Broom discuss potential congressional redistricting, the monuments and memorials bill, the local government investment bill and the business personal property tax exemption bill.