Sunshine Week, observed from March 16-22, 2025, serves as a crucial reminder of the importance of open government and public access to information. In York County, South Carolina, and its municipalities, residents have the right to access a wealth of public records, fostering transparency and accountability. This article will guide you through the process of obtaining public records in York, Rock Hill, Clover, Fort Mill, and Tega Cay, as well as York County itself.
Understanding Sunshine Week and the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA)
Sunshine Week is a nationwide initiative promoting open government and the public’s right to know. The South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) is the cornerstone of this principle, granting citizens access to government meetings, documents, and records, with certain exceptions.
Accessing Records in York County
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York County Government:
- York County complies with the South Carolina FOIA. Requests must be submitted in writing, and responses are mandated within 10 working days for recent records, and 20 working days for records over two years old.
- Access the FOIA information and guidelines on the York County website
- County budget and audit reports are available at York County Library branches and online archives.
- Tax sale overage lists are available here
- The Public Information Office is available to assist with communication strategies
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York County Sheriff’s Office and Detention Facilities:
- The York County Sheriff’s Office manages the York County Detention Center and the York County Prison. Information regarding inmates can be obtained through the Sheriff’s Office, adhering to FOIA regulations.
- The Detention center holds pre trail inmates, and the prison holds sentenced inmates. Inmate information is available here.
Municipal Access: Rock Hill, Fort Mill, Clover, York, and Tega Cay
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City of Rock Hill:
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Town of Fort Mill:
- Fort Mill provides an online FOIA request form and a printable form for submission. Online FOIA request
- Access Codes & Ordinances through Municode. Code of Ordinances Zoning Ordinance
- Financial statements are available here
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Town of Clover:
- Clover emphasizes transparency, with many public documents available online.
- FOIA requests require adherence to the town’s FOIA policy and submission of a request form.
- Access the Municipal Code
- Budget/audit reports on the town’s website at Download the current budget Download the latest audit
- Open Bids & RFPs are available here
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City of York:
- York requires FOIA requests to be submitted using the city’s FOIA Request Form to the Municipal Clerk. City of York FOIA Request Form
- Access Audit Reports
- City Manager Reports
- Code of City Ordinances
- Procurement acquisition are available here.
- City Budgets are here
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City of Tega Cay:
- Information regarding FOIA request can be found here
- Access the Code of Laws and Ordinances at: Code of Laws, CITY OF TEGA CAY’S CODE OF ORDINANCES
- RFPs and Bids are available here.
- The City’s transparency site provides access to Clear Gov
- 2024-2025 Budget Book
Monitoring Campaign Spending
- South Carolina Public Ethics Reporting: Access public disclosure and accountability reports for government officials and candidates, including campaign spending, at the South Carolina Public Ethics Reporting website
Additional Resources
- SC Food Grades: View risk-based inspection scores for food facilities: https://apps.dhec.sc.gov/Environment/FoodGrades/
- State Salaries Query: Access compensation information for state employees earning $50,000 or more: https://www.admin.sc.gov/transparency/state-salaries
By utilizing these resources and understanding the FOIA process, residents of York County can actively participate in their local government and ensure transparency and accountability.
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