Local Government Fund addressed first

No one seemed surprised when Joel Thrift, chairman of Oconee County Council, took the prerogative to make the state’s Local Government Fund the first question of the evening. He sought the lawmakers’ view on the chances for the state aid to counties’ fund to be replenished to levels pre-2007 recession. Two of the lawmakers responded by saying that, as the state’s revenues begin to incrementally increase from the recessionary dip, the state will be in better position to re-fill the LGF. But a third lawmaker, District One Representative Bill Whitmire, said county leaders should keep in mind that there are some members in Columbia who oppose a fully-funded LGF.