Letter to the editor: Sumter - A Tale of Two Cities: The rich, the poor

Public comment is a cornerstone of good governance, and I commend The Item for creating a forum where community members can express their concerns. While passion may run high, let us never lose sight of the need for respectful, solution-driven dialogue.

I write in response to recent articles on Sumter's fiscal decisions: "City of Sumter approves 2025-26 budget with property tax increase" and "Sumter County passes budget for 2025-26 with no tax increase." These articles underscore the growing divide between our city's haves and have-nots, a tale too familiar across America.

Per U.S. Census Bureau data, "to be considered middle class in South Carolina, a household must earn between $45,198 and $135,608 annually. The median household income is $67,804".1 Many in Sumter fall below this range. Our real focus must be on those living below the poverty line and on the edge of financial insecurity.

In that spirit, I respectfully pose several questions to our mayor and county chairman:

Why are Sumter residents facing multiple tax increases: a new penny sales tax, school millage hikes, and now, a city property tax increase?

Why did advocates of the Penny for Progress suggest there would be no new tax burden?

What are the long-term effects of using the county's general reserve fund to avoid a tax hike this year?

How will commercial refuse collection rate increases impact small businesses? Businesses will pass the increase on to the customers to pay.

Most importantly, what concrete steps will city and county leaders take to lift residents out of poverty?

Public safety investments, such as blue light cameras and 911 upgrades, are necessary. But without transparency and accountability, these investments risk deepening public mistrust. The public deserves a clear understanding of how these decisions will reduce crime and promote equitable economic development.

We are also owed an explanation of how taxpayer funds are being used to purchase and demolish properties then later handed over to private developers. Is this an equitable and sustainable strategy?

Sumter's slogan is "Uncommon Patriotism." Let us make that patriotism inclusively rooted in shared prosperity, not just symbolic unity.

God bless the United States of America. #AUnitedSumter

REGINALD EVANS

Sumter