Council rejects blue laws
Aiken County Council voted 7-2 on Tuesday night in favor of an ordinance proposing the suspension of blue laws, which prohibit the sale of certain items before 1:30 p.m. on Sundays.
The ordinance is expected to receive a third and final reading at Council's Aug. 18 meeting. Millbrook Elementary student Emory Lewis softly requested that for the benefit of his fellow students Council repeal blue laws.
The rising fifth-grader was the last to speak during a lengthy public hearing in front of a standing room-only crowd that gathered in Council chambers to share opinions on the laws.
The Aiken County Council later voted to approve the ordinance on a second reading after hearing Lewis and a number of others speak.
"My mom is a teacher and I hear her talk all the time about not having enough money," Lewis said.
Lewis and a number of other people who spoke argued that valuable sales tax dollars, which benefit the public school system, are lost every Sunday when Aiken County residents cross the river into Georgia to shop before 1:30 p.m.
Schools now look to retail sales tax as a revenue stream ever since S.C. Act 388 altered property tax law so that schools no longer benefit from those dollars.
"Schools are underfunded, businesses are facing increased property taxes and are at a competitive disadvantage (to businesses in Augusta where blue laws do not exist)," said Nancy Gage, chair of the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce.
Both the North Augusta Chamber of Commerce and Greater Aiken Chamber of Commerce have joined forces in supporting the repeal, believing that permitting Sunday sales will be a step in the right direction to provide much needed revenue to support this area's school children.
Several chamber representatives wore buttons that said "Support Our Kids." Yet, those in support of retaining blue laws scoffed at the idea that there is so much pent-up shopping power it could make a big economic difference with unrestricted Sunday sales.
"The chambers of commerce say more tax dollars will help the schools. Ladies and gentlemen, that's a joke," said Andy Windham, who waved a copy of Karl Marx's "Communist Manifesto" around while he spoke. "No matter how much money you shovel into them, they will always want more."
Debate raged from person to person who stood up to speak their mind during the public hearing, not only on the benefits of more sales tax dollars but also on the topic of religion and what place it has in government.
Some speakers argued Sunday is a holy day and a day of rest and should be observed by attending church services and by refraining from any worldly work, labor and business.
"Vote not on the spirit of the age, but on principle," Kevin Metcalf urged. "Surely you don't want to go down as the Voltaire who thought during the French Revolution that if the Sabbath was destroyed, it would destroy Christianity. Place your allegiance with the Lord on this one."
A pastor from a local Seventh Day Adventist Church urged Council to keep religion out of the matter and let businesses do what they want to do. After the public comment portion of the hearing was closed,
Chairman Ronnie Young asked everyone in the audience who supported and who did not support the repeal of blue laws to stand up separately. Those who stood up in support of the repeal were the clear majority.
Council members Willar Hightower, Charles Barton, Eddie Butler, Young, Chuck Smith, Scott Singer and Kathy Rawls voted to approve the suspension. Council members Gary Bunker and LaWana McKenzie voted in opposition.