06/02/2026
📚 Beginning today, McCormick County Government is launching a new educational series designed to help citizens better understand how county government works, the services provided, and how local government decisions impact our community.
We’re starting at the foundation — how McCormick County’s Council-Administrator form of government was established and how County Council operates today.
In 1992, the citizens of McCormick County voted in a referendum to adopt the Council-Administrator form of government, as authorized under South Carolina law (S.C. Code § 4-9-10).
Under this structure:
✔️ McCormick County is governed by a five-member County Council
✔️ Each Council member represents one of five election districts
✔️ Council members serve staggered four-year terms
✔️ County Council establishes policies, adopts budgets, approves ordinances, and represents the citizens of their districts
✔️ A County Administrator oversees the daily operations of county government and county departments
County Council also elects officers during its organizational meeting following each general election.
🏛️ The Chairperson presides over County Council meetings and signs official county documents including ordinances, resolutions, contracts, and other official instruments.
🏛️ The Vice-Chairperson serves in the Chairperson’s place when needed and is elected by fellow Council members.
📝 County Council also appoints a Clerk to Council, who is not a Council member. The Clerk records Council proceedings, prepares and maintains official meeting minutes, tracks ordinances and resolutions, and assists Council members with reports and documentation to help ensure transparency and organization in county government operations.
The five election districts were established to ensure representation from across the county and to provide citizens with direct representation in county government.
Over the coming weeks, we’ll share more information about:
đźš‘ Emergency services
đź’§ Water & Sewer operations
🛣️ Roads & infrastructure
🗳️ Public meetings and citizen involvement
đź’° Budgeting and county services
🏢 County departments and their roles
…and much more!
We encourage citizens to follow along and let us know what topics or departments you would like to learn more about.