Local leaders review the State of Our Community;Aiken.
As they addressed the “State of Our Community” at the annual Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce luncheon Wednesday, four speakers sounded a common theme in describing the City of Aiken, Aiken County, the Aiken County School District and the business community – a reason for optimism despite a challenging economy.
The speakers included Aiken Mayor Fred Cavanaugh, County Council Chairman Ronnie Young, school Superintendent Dr. Beth Everitt and Chamber board Chairman Joe Lewis of the Savannah River Banking Company. About 400 people attended the event.
State of Business
Aiken County’s unemployment rate of 10.2 percent ranks among the lowest of South Carolina’s 46 counties. While it’s still too high, Lewis said, neighboring counties’ rates are significantly higher.
“Perhaps the single largest impact on the Aiken economy in recent months has been a result of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act stimulus funds with a total of $1.6 billion earmarked for Savannah River Site,” he said. “These funds will be used to hire up to 3,000 employees over a 30-month period. Your Chamber leadership met with 13 companies engaged in recruiting employees to fill these positions and encouraged them to hire qualified Aiken County citizens first.”
Lewis announced that the Chamber is launching “$175 for the 175th,” a fundraising effort in support of the City of Aiken’s 175th anniversary in 2010. He invited luncheon guests to complete a pledge form.
He also cited the Chamber’s support of the horse industry through its Equine Steering Committee and its support of regional collaboration to help guarantee jobs, particularly the 10,000 nuclear workforce jobs needed over the next decade.
A recent survey of Chamber members indicates an upbeat attitude, Lewis said. Only 4 percent of respondents said they will be reducing employee levels while 24 percent plan to add to their workforce. Businesses have an opportunity to reinvent themselves and prepare for greater success as the economy improves, and the Chamber has been doing so as well, he said.
“We have been busy building a foundation over the past few years on several initiatives, where we expect to see the results in the future,” Lewis said.
State of Education
While public education in South Carolina endured the greatest revenue loss in recent memory, Aiken County schools continued their path to excellence with many awards and accolades, Everitt said. She credited teachers and staff members as the heartbeat and backbone of education.
“With less supplies, fewer staff and reduction in programs, they kept focused on the most important thing, teaching our students,” Everitt said. “This fact was illustrated while I was shopping on last Saturday. A teacher introduced herself to me and said, ‘We know it’s going to be a tough year, but don’t worry, we are still teaching.’”
Still, the superintendent acknowledged that employees will experience morale issues this year. Everitt cited the support of Chamber members, parents and the community in providing extra supplies, classroom grants and donations.
The district is focusing this year on improved teaching, development leadership and accelerating student achievement, but the challenges, especially the financial concerns, remain.
“We need your advocacy to change the way public education is funded,” Everitt said. “If our students are our future, don’t they deserve a stable and adequate funding source? Your voices must be heard to place a priority on the most important resource, our children.”
State of County
Through sound management of operations and planning, Young said, Aiken County remains on solid financial footing.
“We were able to absorb a nearly $700,000 mid-year cut from the state of South Carolina in fiscal year 2008-09 and another $1.5 million in the year we just began,” he said. “All this was accomplished without a tax increase to cover the loss of revenues or without a negative impact to the services we deliver.”
Young cited the success of the capital projects sales-and-use tax, allowing the County to undertake many needed projects. Even with the state of the national economy, the collections on the sales tax have remained strong.
EMS coverage has expanded in the county. Building permits are slightly higher in number than a year ago, indicating that construction in Aiken County remains fairly strong.
The County Council’s recent blue laws repeal was essential to help businesses in Aiken County remain competitive with those across the river, Young said.
“Our state has replaced a large portion of the property tax for school funding with the retail sales tax,” Young said. “Therefore, the collection of sales tax is virtually important to the proper funding of our school system.”
He expressed pleasure in investments in hydrogen and alternative energy sources, resulting in technology companies now looking at the community.
“We are working on several projects that we normally would not have seen, and it’s because of our efforts in technology. That’s where the jobs of the future are,” Young said.
City of Aiken
Because of the City’s past conservative polices and prior planning, Fred Cavanaugh said, “We ended the year in pretty good shape and, in my opinion, better than a majority of cities in South Carolina.”
The mayor cited a focus on five priorities: employees, the Department of Public Safety, finances, communications and services. Fourteen employees completed the City’s succession management program in 2008. Their greater understanding of City operations will help them prepare for advancement as opportunities arise, Cavanaugh said.
Public Safety was reaccredited this year with a top international rating. A new automated crime data page on the City website shows reported crimes by neighborhood. Officers continue to work with the community’s young people, and the department’s Police Athletic League won a top Municipal Association award.
The City has maintained good financial shape with high bond ratings.
“We have adequate cash reserves to operate the City, if necessary,” Cavanaugh said. “Though the down economy has affected us and we have cut back in many areas, we have been as fiscally responsible as possible … The City was commended by the S.C. Policy (Council) and the state comptroller as one of the leaders in the state for its financial transparency.”
The City’s goal is to keep taxes as low as possible, and it has either maintained or lowered the City property tax millage every year, the mayor said. Yet the City provides more services at a lower cost than most cities its size, Cavanaugh said.
The City’s success, he said, depends on partnerships to improve the quality of life. Businesses, schools, medical centers, equine activities, sporting venues and Aiken’s citizens support the community. The City supports the Savannah River Site and the good things happening with the MOX project, the national laboratory efforts and related work at the Center for Hydrogen Research, he said.
The City of Aiken is working hard on its 175th anniversary celebration, Cavanaugh said. The kickoff is scheduled for Jan. 10, 2010.
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