Sc. Const. art. XVII, § 7 — Article XVII / Section 7
SC Const., Article XVII, Section 7
Status: in_force

B Special election for bonding municipality. In authorizing a special election in any incorporated city or town in this State for the purpose of bonding the same, the General Assembly shall prescribe as a condition precedent to the holding of said election a petition from a majority of the freeholders of said city or town as shown by its tax books, and at such elections all electors of such city or town who are duly qualified for voting under Section 12 of this Article, and who have paid all taxes, State, County and municipal, for the previous year, shall be allowed to vote; and the vote of a majority of those voting in said election shall be necessary to authorize the issue of said bonds. Provided, That the General Assembly need not prescribe any such petition as a condition precedent to the holding of any such election in the City of Columbia, where the proceeds of the bonds are authorized to be used solely for the purpose of enlarging, extending and repairing a sewerage system and plant or a waterworks system and plant, or for the purchase, building and maintenance of fire stations, fire alarm systems and fire equipment, or for any one or more of said purposes. Provided, further, That the limitations imposed by this Section and by Section 5 of Article X of the Constitution shall not apply to any bonded indebtedness incurred by the City of Columbia, where the bonded indebtedness is authorized to be incurred for the purpose of enlarging and maintaining its fire department or for purchase, building and maintenance of fire stations, fire alarm systems or fire equipment, or for any one or more of said purposes and when the question of incurring such bonded indebtedness is submitted to the qualified electors of said City at an election or elections to be called by the City Council of said City, and a majority of those voting thereon shall vote in favor thereof; and the General Assembly need not prescribe as a condition precedent to the holding of any such election a petition from the freeholders as provided in Section 13 of Article II of the Constitution. Provided, That the General Assembly need not prescribe any such petition as a condition precedent to the holding of any such election in the City of Myrtle Beach where the proceeds of the bonds are authorized to be used solely for the purpose of enlarging, extending and improving the waterworks system or the sewage disposal system. Provided, that the General Assembly need not prescribe any such petition of freeholders as a condition precedent to the holding of any such election in the City of Columbia where the proceeds of the bonds to be authorized are used for any corporate purpose of the City of Columbia. It is intended that the term "City of Columbia" as used in this amendment shall mean the City of Columbia with corporate limits as now constituted or as hereafter altered following merger, annexation, or modification of corporate limits. Provided, that the General Assembly need not prescribe any such petition of freeholders as a condition precedent to the holding of any such election in the City of Charleston where the proceeds of the bonds to be authorized are used for any corporate purpose of the City of Charleston. It is intended that the term "City of Charleston" as used in this amendment shall mean the City of Charleston with corporate limits as now constituted or as hereafter altered following merger, annexation, or modification of corporate limits. Provided, that the General Assembly need not prescribe any such petition of freeholders as a condition precedent to the holding of any such election in the City of Greenville where the proceeds of the bonds to be authorized are used for any corporate purpose of the City of Greenville. It is intended that the term "City of Greenville" as used in this amendment shall mean the City of Greenville with corporate limits as now constituted or as hereafter altered following merger, annexation, or modification of corporate limits. Provided, that provisions of this section prescribing the petition of freeholders as a condition precedent to the holding of any such election shall not apply to the City of Spartanburg where the proceeds of the bonds to be authorized are used for any corporate purpose of the City of Spartanburg. It is intended that the term "City of Spartanburg" as used in this amendment shall mean the City of Spartanburg with corporate limits as now constituted or as hereafter altered following merger, annexation, or modification of corporate limits. Provided, that the provisions of this section requiring a petition of the freeholders and the holding of an election shall not apply to any obligation incurred by the City of Florence to Florence County or to any agency of Florence County resulting from a long-term lease of a portion of a multistoried office building to be erected by Florence County for the purpose of providing courthouse, jail, city hall, office and related facilities for Florence County and for the City of Florence and for other governmental agencies, pursuant to which the full faith and credit of the City of Florence is pledged to the payment of rent and other obligations under such lease. Provided, that the General Assembly need not prescribe any such petition of freeholders as a condition precedent to the holding of any such election in the City of Greer where the proceeds of the bonds to be authorized are used for any corporate purpose of the City of Greer. It is intended that the term "City of Greer" as used in this amendment shall mean the City of Greer with corporate limits as now constituted or as hereafter altered following merger, annexation, or modification of corporate limits. Provided, that provisions of this section prescribing the petition of freeholders as a condition precedent to the holding of any such election shall not apply to any incorporated municipality located in York County where the proceeds of the bonds to be authorized are used for any corporate purpose of such municipality. It is intended that the term "Incorporated municipality in York County" as used in this amendment shall mean all incorporated municipalities now existing or hereafter created, and as originally constituted or as afterwards altered following merger, annexation, or modification of corporate limits.