At a special meeting on June 23, 2025, the Tega Cay City Council unanimously approved the second reading of Ordinance 603, amending the Parks and Recreation fee schedule to include a $70 surcharge for participants residing outside the city limits. The decision comes in response to recent funding changes enacted by the York County Council.
Previously, York County levied a 1.5 mill recreation tax on unincorporated areas to support youth sports programs across the county, including those in Tega Cay. That tax has now been eliminated, with the county instead offering direct funding to municipalities to offset the costs of non-resident participants. The funding proposal involves a $100 per participant stipend for unincorporated York County residents, but only if cities agree not to charge different rates based on residency. The estimated funding would be significantly less than under the previous method.
City Manager Charlie Funderburk expressed concerns about the sustainability and legality of the county’s proposed funding method, which relies on hospitality and accommodations taxes—funds typically restricted to tourism-related expenditures. He noted that if those funds were later deemed ineligible, the city could face a budget shortfall without a backup revenue source.
Council members and staff acknowledged the difficult nature of the decision. Council discussed the possibility of a future intergovernmental agreement among Tega Cay, Fort Mill, and Rock Hill to allow reciprocal recreation participation without additional fees. However, that effort faces technological and financial hurdles, including software limitations and potential revenue losses.
According to Parks & Recreation Director Dustin Overton, 1,824 unincorporated York County residents registered for Tega Cay programs in the fall of 2024 and spring of 2025. The new $70 fee, effective July 1, 2025, is projected to offset the average $208,000 in annual county funding the city had previously received.
Council members emphasized that the added fee is not intended as a profit-generating measure but rather a necessary step to maintain program quality without overburdening city taxpayers. The meeting concluded with remarks highlighting the city’s continued commitment to providing strong youth recreation programs and a hope for improved cooperation with county officials.
Sign up for our Sunday Spectator. Delivered to your inbox every Sunday, with all the news from the week.
