Happy Mother’s Day Greenville County

Chairman Blount’s Newsletter 5-11-25

To All the Incredible Mothers of Greenville County,

This Mother’s Day, we pause to honor the women whose love, strength, and sacrifice form the foundation of our families and communities. Whether you’re raising the next generation, supporting loved ones, or leading in business, faith, or service, your impact echoes far beyond your own home.

Mothers are the quiet architects of our future. You give tirelessly, guide wisely, and hold us together in both joyful and challenging times. On behalf of Greenville County Council, thank you for the grace you carry and the legacy you build each day.

Today, we celebrate you. Not just with flowers or cards, but with gratitude that runs deep.

Happy Mother’s Day!

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Council & Standing Committee Meetings

Monday, May 12

• 3:30 PM – Budget Workshop
  Location: Committee Meeting Room
  Livestream: Watch here

• 5:00 PM – Finance Committee
  Location: Committee Meeting Room
  Livestream: Watch here

Tuesday, May 13

• 4:00 PM – Special Called Committee of the Whole
  Location: Committee Meeting Room
  Livestream: Watch here

• 5:00 PM – Public Communication Forum
  Location: Committee Meeting Room
  Register to Speak: Register here
  Livestream: Watch here

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NextGEN: Fueling Greenville’s Future—One Startup at a Time

Small businesses aren’t just storefronts. They’re the backbone of our local economy. When we support local entrepreneurs, we’re investing in job creation, innovation, and the unique character of Greenville County.

At Tuesday’s County Council meeting, I had the honor of recognized the team from NextGEN – the Greenville Entrepreneur Network. This organization is dedicated to helping local residents launch and grow businesses that are rooted in our community. In the past year alone, NextGEN supported 145 local companies, generating nearly $80 million in revenue and creating 757 jobs with average wages 19% higher than the county average.

One of NextGEN’s flagship events is the NEXT Venture Summit, which brings together entrepreneurs, investors, and industry leaders to spotlight Greenville’s vibrant startup scene. This summit not only provides visibility and investment opportunities but also reinforces our region’s reputation as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship.

Greenville County Council understands that fostering high-impact small businesses is essential for sustainable economic development. By supporting organizations like NextGEN, we ensure that talent stays here, companies scale here, and the future of our economy is being written right here in Greenville County.

NextGEN isn’t just a partner in progress, they’re an engine of it. We’re proud to support their efforts and grateful for their continued commitment to making Greenville County a great place to start and scale a business. 

Get Involved:

If you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or know someone with a business idea, connect with NextGEN at nextgengvl.org. Together, we can continue to build a thriving local economy. 

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Proposed Update to Stormwater Ordinance

Stormwater runoff doesn’t just wash away rain — it carries sediment, pollutants, and debris from our neighborhoods and worksites straight into creeks, rivers, and lakes. That’s why Greenville County is updating its stormwater ordinance for the first time in years. But how we regulate stormwater has serious implications — not just for water quality, but for property rights, development costs, farming operations, and local businesses.

The proposed ordinance is a comprehensive overhaul aimed at complying with state and federal mandates under the Clean Water Act. It lays out clear expectations for how both new development and existing properties manage runoff — and introduces tighter enforcement tools to back those rules up.

The Good:

• Serious Standards for a Serious Issue: The ordinance aims to reduce flooding, prevent erosion, and protect local water quality by requiring modern stormwater controls for development projects.

• Encouraging Better Design: There’s strong language promoting natural stormwater solutions like green infrastructure and low-impact development — a smart shift toward systems that work with the land rather than against it.

• Maintenance Matters: It sets out clear, long-term expectations for maintaining stormwater systems and allows the County to inspect and enforce those standards.

• Pollution Accountability: It rightly targets “illicit discharges” — unapproved connections or dumping that threaten public health and the environment.

The Concerning:

• Vague Exemptions for Ag Use: The ordinance tries to exempt agriculture and agritourism but adds a carve-out that pulls farms back in if they have retail sales or disturb more than an acre — a threshold that could sweep in many rural properties unintentionally (Sec. 8-57).

• Automatic Government Access: The County can enter private property for inspection and enforcement once it determines a violation has occurred, with little due process before liens or penalties are applied (Sec. 8-85).

• Stop Work Powers & Equipment Seizure: A stop-work order can be triggered even by a paperwork mistake, and the County is granted authority to impound equipment in some cases (Sec. 8-115).

• No Clear Appeals Before Liens: Property owners could face liens on their land for cleanup or enforcement costs — without a guaranteed judicial hearing first (Sec. 8-85 & 8-114).

What Happens Next:

This ordinance is still working its way through the process, and that’s a good thing. It means we have time to raise questions, tighten language, and get this right. It’s encouraging to see Greenville County taking water management seriously. We need smart stormwater policy that keeps our streams clean and our homes dry, but we also need to make sure enforcement powers are balanced, and that rural landowners aren’t caught up in unintended red tape.

This is exactly the kind of ordinance the public should be watching, not just after it passes, but while it’s being shaped. The best laws are made in daylight, and that includes making room for public input on how we protect our water without overreaching on private property.

Want to weigh in? Contact your County Council representative. Ask when public hearings are scheduled, and urge them to support amendments that safeguard both clean water and property rights.

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Greater Greenville Sanitation – A Fight for Local Control and Service Integrity

The events surrounding Greater Greenville Sanitation (GGS) over the past few weeks have revealed a frustrating—but all too common—truth about how politics sometimes operates: when a desired outcome can’t be achieved in court, some will try to achieve it through backdoor legislation instead.

Here are the facts:

First, a private national sanitation company filed a lawsuit in an attempt to block GGS from expanding services and building a transfer station. They lost. The court upheld GGS’s ability to continue serving the public and investing in infrastructure.

Shortly afterward, a state legislator—who happens to work for the law firm involved in that case—introduced House Bill 4002 and 4003, seeking to accomplish through legislation what failed in the courtroom: the dismantling of GGS’s structure and authority.

Once the public became aware, the response was immediate and powerful. Citizens made it clear: GGS provides excellent service, and they didn’t want politically motivated interference. Community members, neighborhood groups, and everyday residents raised their voices:

“Leave our sanitation service alone!”

County Council heard you loud and clear. We prepared a resolution in direct opposition to the legislation—ready to vote and push back.

As a result, House Bill 4002 was defeated in the Senate and left us with House Bill 4003.

In a last-minute move just before our council meeting, lawmakers introduced a revised version of House Bill 4003. These changes, which GGS leadership agreed to, removed some of the more extreme restructuring language that would have directly harmed local services. In good faith, and out of respect for that compromise, we agreed to pull the resolution.

To be clear: no services will be interrupted. Business will continue as usual for all citizens currently receiving GGS service.

But let’s also be honest. This is not how government should work.

The fact that legislation was introduced to override a court decision—on behalf of a private company, no less—and only changed after public backlash, is a perfect example of what people are sick of. Political games. Quiet deals. Using state power to achieve what couldn’t be won in a courtroom.

Laws should be based on principle, not power plays. They should be clear, fair, and stand on their own merit—not serve as tools to reverse outcomes that didn’t go someone’s way.

As Chairman, I will continue to call out tactics that undermine public trust and sidestep the voice of the people. Greenville County residents expect better—and they deserve it. We will continue fighting to ensure that public services stay in public hands and that political favors don’t take precedence over community needs.

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A First Look at Greenville County’s FY2026 Budget: Turning the Corner

Greenville County’s proposed FY2026 budget is more than a collection of numbers — it’s a statement of priorities and a sign that this Council is listening. After two consecutive years of tax increases and growing public frustration, this draft budget represents a deliberate shift. It delivers both relief and results by focusing on core needs, correcting course, and showing taxpayers that their voices matter.

Highlights:

• A Long-Awaited Tax Cut

After back-to-back tax hikes in FY2024 and FY2025, the County proposes a 1.5 mill tax reduction. This comes during a reassessment year, and we’re making sure it’s not used to sneak in extra revenue. Instead, this move is a direct response to residents demanding financial restraint and accountability.

• Road Funding Takes a Giant Leap

This budget increases road paving and improvements to $40 million — more than triple the previous average of $13 million. For years, communities have waited for meaningful road repairs. This surge in funding is designed to finally break the backlog and improve daily life across the county. The total road program, including capital and debt service, reaches $43.1 million in FY2026.

• Real Investment in Public Safety

Twelve new deputies. Five new paramedics. Expanded EMS support. A new criminalist for forensics. Capital upgrades for courthouse security, body-worn cameras, and emergency response systems. It’s a comprehensive package addressing both frontline staffing and modern equipment needs — all designed to strengthen safety and justice across Greenville County.

• Still Financially Sound

Despite these major investments, Greenville County retains a General Fund balance of $68.7 million, preserves its Triple A bond rating, and keeps total expenditures well-aligned with long-term projections. Salaries, benefits, and essential services are funded without relying on unsustainable revenue.

A Shift in Philosophy

Let’s be blunt: the last two budgets divided this community. Some believed the tax increases were necessary to manage growth. Others felt ignored and overburdened. This new draft reflects a new tone. It doesn’t walk away from responsibility — it refocuses it.

We’re prioritizing the basics: roads, law enforcement, emergency response, and efficient government. We’re scaling back bloated growth and targeting investments where the public has been loud and clear.

Still a Work in Progress

This is just the beginning. The FY2026 budget is a draft — and that means it’s open to input, adjustment, and scrutiny. A budget workshop will be held this Monday, giving Council the first opportunity to shape and improve the proposal. Public hearings and additional workshops will continue into June before a final vote.

The reason I only mention FY2026 is because there are already discussions about separating what has historically been a 2 year budget into separate years. Those discussions will finalize in the upcoming budget workshops.

We invite you to take part in this process. This is your government, and this budget is your money. Our commitment is to spend it wisely, transparently, and with purpose.

This budget is a serious attempt to restore trust — by investing in what people actually ask for (like paved roads), cutting where we can, and proving that local government still works for the people who fund it. While not completed, in my opinion, it’s definitely a step in the right direction!

Find the budget presentation HERE

Find the budget HERE

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Chairman’s Corner: Facts Over Falsehoods

Every once in a while, politics reveals its less admirable side. When facts are manipulated and narratives are twisted just to create division, we all lose—not as Republicans or Democrats, not as insiders or outsiders, but as neighbors trying to move our community forward.

So let’s set the record straight.

Recently, a fellow council member sent out an email full of accusations, aimed squarely at me. While I won’t stoop to naming names—he clearly had no issue doing so—I will address the facts. Because misleading messaging like this doesn’t just attack one person; it undermines the very unity and focus that Council needs to do its job.

First, the irony:

I’m the one who suggested and created the Ad Hoc Oversight Committee in the first place. The very same committee now being used as a political weapon against me wouldn’t even exist had I not advocated for more transparency and citizen accountability. To be accused of “headwinds” against something I initiated is not only dishonest—it’s absurd.

The claim that I haven’t attended Oversight Committee meetings is true only in the narrowest, most misleading sense. I haven’t been there physically. But I’ve listened to every meeting online. I’ve kept up. I’ve paid attention. And I’ve respected the boundaries of a committee I am not a member of. Why? Because I trust my colleagues to do their jobs without me micromanaging them. That’s called leadership, not absence.

Even more revealing: the councilman making these accusations personally requested to be excused from additional committee assignments beyond Oversight and Public Safety. He sent that request directly to me—via both email and text—stressing that he didn’t want more obligations. He also turned down my request for him to chair the Finance Committee, of which he also has not attended a meeting. That’s his prerogative. But if that’s acceptable, why is it suddenly unacceptable that I haven’t attended meetings of a committee I’m not even assigned to?

Meanwhile, I’m serving as Chairman of County Council, Chair of the Finance Committee, and a member of the Planning and Development Committee—roles that come with significant time commitments, preparation, and public responsibility. Add to that my full-time profession, my obligations to District 19 and all citizens of Greenville County, and most importantly, my duties as a husband and father of three.

Like any responsible adult, I must prioritize where my presence is most impactful.

And let me be very clear:

Leadership is not about being seen everywhere. It’s about knowing where you’re most needed.

It’s about empowering others, not controlling them. It’s about guiding Council with integrity and focus, not playing the role of political antagonist just to feel relevant.

I refuse to engage in schoolyard games, except for this Friday when my children have field day.

This kind of performative, divisive behavior may continue—and if it does, it’ll be a reflection on the one doing it, not on me. I didn’t seek this role to play defense. I came to lead. And I’ll continue doing so, with or without the support of those more interested in making enemies than making progress.

If you have any questions or concerns on how I am doing as Chairman, I am very easy to reach and guarantee you a conversation for those concerns to be discussed.

All I ask is that you not simply rely on the opinion of someone who seems unable to govern without having someone to attack.

There’s simply too much work to be done to waste time on political theater!

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As always, here’s to another blessed and prosperous week in Greenville County!