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The South Congaree Arena Website The South Congaree Arena is located at 395 Oak Street, West Columbia, SC, 29172. It is managed by the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission. It consist of a large covered arena with a dirt floor ringed by a wooden livestock fence and a concrete area. It is well-lit and wired for electrical with many outlets around the arena. There is a well-equipped concession stand with permanent restroom facilities. It is the home to the South Congaree Championship Rodeo each July and the production Jesus is His Name in December. This is a production of the life and times of Jesus Christ put on by all volunteers. It also plays host to a Jack Russell Terrier trial and other activities throughout the year. There is no alcohol allowed in the park and any illegal activity is strictly prohibited. This facility requires a lease to use. For maintenance issues or to contact the LCRAC about this park call 803-359-4048.

SOUTH CONGAREE 2024 ELECTION FILING HAS ENDED FOR THE 2024 ELECTION SCHEDULED APRIL 2, 2024 A. ARE YOU PLANNING ON RUNNING FOR MAYOR OR COUNCIL SEAT? The next Town of South Congaree election will be held on April 2, 2024. The offices of the Mayor and Two (2) Council members are up for election. Citizens desiring to be candidates for one of the above offices must file with the Lexington County Registration and Elections office between January 22, 2024 and February 02, 2024 by 5:00 PM. The Election office is located at 605 W. Main Street Suite 105, Lexington SC, SC. The filing fee for the office of Mayor is $50.00 and Councilmember is $25.00. Citizens choosing to file for candidacy must be a resident of the Town of South Congaree and a registered voter. Any person desiring to register to vote for this election should go on-line at www.scvotes.org . B. ARE YOU QUALIFIED TO VOTE FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS? You Must be a citizen of the town of South Congaree to vote in a South Congaree Election. Any person desiring to vote in this election should go on-line at www.scvotes.org . to make sure you are registered or to register if you are not registered.

Click on the flyer for registration info. Click to Register On-Line

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO HELP? The Town of South Congaree like most small towns operates off a very small budget. Because of this, we often need additional help in various capacities we simply can't afford. Below are listed areas in which we currently need assistance. If you have some time to spare and would like to help your community, go to the volunteer position you are interested and e-mail that department's head. We certainly could use your skills an talents. Volunteer Grant Writer Applicants must posses some skills in writing. Previous grant writing experience is preferred. A grant writer would search for, find, and match available grants to the town's needs. This may include water and sewer, b eautification , economic improvement, law enforcement , public safety, parks & recreation grants, and more. This writer would study the grant's requirements , ensure that the Town of South Congaree meets or could meet those r equirements in the future. Then, that individual would fully fill out the application, gather all required documentation, and return it by the application's deadline. Some training may be possible through the SC Municipal Association, the SCEPD, the SC Criminal Justice Academy, and other agencies. If you are interested in doing some volunteer grant writing, please contact the Town Administrator by calling (803) 755-2760 and pressing extension 101. Complaint Form Click to button download Send form to kricard@southcongaree.org Download

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS Who needs a business license? Every person engaged or intending to engage in any calling, business, occupation or profession in whole or in part within the Town limits of South Congaree, is required to pay an annual license fee for the privilege of doing business and obtain a business license. “Business” is defined as a calling, occupation, profession or activity engaged in with the object of gain, benefit or advantage, either directly or indirectly. Do I need a business license? Does your entity (person, partnership, organization, or business): sell items to the public? claim office deductions or business expenses for a commercial or a residential location? use advertisements or business cards using an address based in the Town of South Congaree? have a business checking account? have an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS? have any other professional or occupational state license regulated by SC Labor, Licensing and Regulation (for example, architects, contractors, cosmetologists, engineers, physicians, therapists, etc.)? operate, manage or have control of the entity? transport passengers? receive compensation as an independent contractor and/or a form 1099 for work? own and/or lease property to other businesses or individuals? occupy a commercial space used for an office? have a physical location outside of the Town of South Congaree and provide services within the Town limits of South Congaree? have a physical location outside of the Town of South Congaree and perform work on or provide services to a construction project within the Town limits? If you answered YES to any item listed above, then a business license is required. The Town of South Congaree requires all businesses operating within the Town limits, to obtain a business license and to pay a business license fee. This requirement ensures that businesses operating in the Town of South Congaree comply with local and state regulations. Tax-exempt organizations may be exempt from requiring a license. Please provide proof of exemption. How much does a business license cost? The business license fee is determined by where the business is located (inside/outside Town limits) and the business’ gross receipts/income. New businesses pay license fees on projected gross income from the start of business date through April 30th of that year. State law mandates that fees be paid on gross income without deductions for expense incurred for costs such as rents, salaries, cost of goods and other operational expenses. Existing businesses must renew their business license annually. Renewal fees are based on the previous year’s gross income reported to the Internal Revenue Service. Businesses located outside the town limits South Congaree must report gross income exclusively for business conducted inside the town limits only. What is “gross income”? “Gross income” means the total income of a business, received or accrued, for one year collected or to be collected from business done within the town, subtracting income from business done wholly outside of the town on which a license tax is paid to some other town or a county. Gross income is defined by ordinance to mean the total received from the business operation without deductions of goods, overhead or salaries. It should conform to the gross figure reported on the business federal income tax return defined by the IRS Code Section 61(a). See the (sample IRS tax ) forms to see which line item to report from your tax return. Gross income for brokers or agents means gross commissions received or retained, unless otherwise specified. Gross income for insurance companies means gross premiums collected. Gross income for business license tax purposes shall not include taxes collected for a governmental entity, escrow funds, or funds which are the property of a third party. The value of bartered goods or trade-in merchandise shall be included in gross income. The gross income for business license purposes may be verified by inspection of returns and reports filed with the Internal Revenue Service, the South Carolina Department of Revenue, the South Carolina Insurance Commission, or other government agency. Does a business license expire? Yes, business licenses expire April 30th of each year. You will have until April 30th to renew your license the following year to avoid a 5% late fee per month after the due date. Non-resident businesses must renew their license prior to conducting business in the new year. If you do not intend to conduct business in the town limits, please indicate this on your renewal form. If your business is closed, you may indicate this on your renewal form by noting this and the date the business closed. Are any businesses exempt from obtaining a business license? Yes, some businesses are exempt from business license fees, however the business or organization must still apply in order to obtain a compliance certificate. Please contact the Business License office at 803-755-2760, ext. 109, for more information about exemptions. Do I have to display my business license? Yes, the license should be displayed in a conspicuous place in the business establishment. A transient or non-resident business should carry the license upon his person or in a vehicle used in the business readily available for inspection by any authorized agent of the town. For companies with multiple vehicles, like contractors, it is recommended that each vehicle contain a copy of the license. If I am buying a business that already has a business license, is a business license transferable? No, the current ordinance states that business licenses are not transferable, and a transfer of ownership is considered a termination of the old business and the establishment of a new business requiring a new business license, based on the income of the old business. Before buying a business make sure that the old business complies with the current town ordinances. What should I do if I sell or close my business? You should notify the business license office by completing the Business Change/Closure Form to make the town aware that your business closed or was sold to another business or individual. Include the name of your business, physical location of your business, date sold or closed, and the business license account number located on your printed license. Your form should be signed and dated. Is there anything I need to do if my business location or activity changes during the year? If your business moves to another location or the activity of your business changes, you should notify the Town of South Congaree by email or mail immediately. A change in business activity may need to comply with building code or zoning code regulations. A change of address must be reported to license official within ten (10) days after the business moves to its new location. The license will then be valid at the new address after notifying the license official in writing and complying with zoning and building codes and approval of other departments as determined by the license official. Without this written notification, the existing business license is terminated, the business will be deemed as operating without a business license and subject the licensee to prosecution. Do I need a separate business license for each location and for each type of business activity? Yes, a separate license is required for each place of business and for each classification. If the gross income cannot be separate for classifications at one location, the license fee shall be computed on the combined gross income for the classification requiring the highest rate. If I am working for someone who has a business license already, do I need a business license? If you are not on that company’s payroll with taxes deducted out of your paycheck and you receive a 1099 form instead, then you are considered self-employed and a business license is required. How do I register the name of my business? You may contact the Secretary of State office to verify if anyone has incorporated the name you would like to use and inquire about the laws governing this issue. How do I find out in which licensing jurisdiction my business is located? You can use our online Lexington County Parcel Viewer (http://lexcogis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/Solutions/s2.html?appid=93223c31eb2e46578b38e7bfd7af06bc ) to find your jurisdiction. On the right side of the screen, use the search bar to enter the address (Omit road, street lane etc.) and click "enter". If your business is inside town limits, you should see "(2-E)" in the Tax District column. If you need help, please email the Town Hall for assistance: kricard@southcongaree.org Are there any other business taxes required in the Town? The Town of South Congaree does have a 2% Hospitality Tax. The SC Dept. of Revenue also requires an Accommodations Tax. For more information visit www.sctax.org or www.scbos.sc.gov . If you have any questions please visit our town hall at 119 West Berry Road, West Columbia, South Carolina 29172 or e-mail your questions to kricard@southcongaree.org .

JOB OPENINGS South Congaree Town Hall 119 West Berry Rd. West Columbia, SC 29170 (803) 755-2760 Emergencies Dial 911 The Town of South Congaree currently has the following employment opportunities open: Employment Application Town Hall

BUSINESS LICENSING INFORMATION Contact Us All businesses must obtain a business license when engaging or intending to engage in any calling, business, occupation, or profession, in whole or in part, within the limits of the Town of South Congaree, and shall be required to pay an annual license tax for the privilege of doing business in the Town. The license payment shall be computed on the gross income generated from the preceding calendar year on business performed within the limits of the Town of South Congaree. No deductions from gross income shall be made except income from business done wholly outside of the Municipality on which a license tax is paid to some other municipality or a county, taxes collected for a government entity, or income which cannot be included for computation of the tax pursuant to State or Federal law. BUSINESS LICENSE RENEWALS All Town Business Licenses expire on April 30th each year; the deadline to renew without penalties is April 30th. Annual license fees are based on the gross receipts/gross revenue for the business (or projected gross for new businesses). Please print a copy of application form, fill in the application and return to the town hall. Please make sure all appropriate documentation is included with your application so that the processing will not be delayed. Please do not mail cash payment. You may also pay by company check or cashier’s check. The town makes every effort to remind you of your Business License Renewal, sometimes this may not happen. It is your responsibility to renew whether you receive renewal notice or not. Please mark your calendar for this yearly renewal to avoid penalties. If you have any questions please visit our town hall or e-mail your questions to townclerk@southcongaree.org . Town Clerk townclerk@southcongaree.org (803) 755-2760 ext. 101 Documents & Forms BUSINESS LICENSE APPLICATION HOW TO CALCULATE BIS. LIC. FEE BUS. NAME CHANGE/CLOSURE SAMPLE IRS FORM

Christmas Parade Registration Sign-up Link

The South Congaree Park Website The South Congaree Park is beside the town hall at 119 West Berry Road, West Columbia, SC 29172. It is managed by the Lexington County Recreation & Aging Commission. There are several picnic shelters of differing sizes, permanent charcoal grills, a sand volleyball court, basketball area, a large play set centered around a play fire truck, swings of several sizes, and several large areas to run and play. There is a beautiful creek that runs through it but it is for viewing only. There is no swimming, wading, or fishing in the creek. All features of the park are available on a first come first serve basis. Place holding is only permitted by a person on site only and items left for place holding or that are left by mistake may be removed. There is no alcohol allowed in the park and any illegal activity is strictly prohibited. There are ample trash cans available and it is the users responsibility to CLEAN UP after themselves! There are permanent restrooms located under the steps. For maintenance issues or to contact the LCRAC about this park call (803) 359-4048.

The South Congaree-Pine Ridge Branch Library Library Website Friends of the Library The South Congaree Pine Ridge Branch Library is a part of the County of Lexington's library system. It is located at 200 Sunset Drive West Columbia, SC. It is a full service library with thousand of books currently on their shelves. If there's a book you'd like and it's in the library system at another branch, they can get it moved for you. They have an extensive video collection and computers for public use. Throughout the year, there are many activities planned that are enjoyed by children and adults alike. They are especially active in the summer months when children are out of school. This instills a love of reading in children and helps to combat the summer slide. They also hold workshops on everything from scarp-booking to sushi making. Children enjoy parties and fun days and there's a beautiful serenity garden in the rear. The library is not just for children. There are many books, videos, and activities geared toward the adult. There is always something to do at the library and they'd love to have you get involved in their Friends of the Library program. South Congaree-Pine Ridge Branch Library MON - 9:00 AM 5:00 PM TUE - 11:00 AM 7:00 PM WED - CLOSED THU - 12:00 AM 6:00 PM FRI - 9:00 AM 5:00 PM SAT - 10:00 AM 1:00 PM SUN - CLOSED