TO RECOGNIZE YORK COUNTY AS A VITAL PART OF THE PALMETTO STATE AND TO DECLARE FEBRUARY 24, 2015, "YORK COUNTY DAY" IN SOUTH CAROLINA.

Whereas, nestled between the Broad River on the west and the Catawba River on the east in the state's hardy Piedmont, York County is home to over 239,000 South Carolina citizens, which is nearly five percent of the state's total population; and

Whereas, York County is one of the state's fastest growing counties with an average annual growth rate of 4.6 percent and a cumulative growth of 35 percent over the past ten years; and

Whereas, York County's estimated assessment of real and manufacturing property exceeded $808 million which is nearly a 1.3 percent increase from the previous year and represents approximately 3.6 percent of the state's total assessment of real and manufacturing property; and

Whereas, York County is the state's tenth highest producing county in retail sales and provides three percent of South Carolina's total retail sales; and

Whereas, the citizens of York County passed their own one-cent sales tax in 1997, 2003, and again in 2011 to collect more than $443 million to pay for critical road improvements, which has leveraged a total of $645 million in transportation improvements. These improvements also enhance the efficiency of the state's road system; and

Whereas, appreciative of York County's fine preservation of its past, as well as its judicious eye to the present and future, the General Assembly takes great pleasure in saluting York County. Now, therefore,

Be it resolved by the House of Representatives, the Senate concurring:

That the members of the South Carolina General Assembly, by this resolution, recognize York County as a vital part of the Palmetto State and declare February 24, 2015, "York County Day" in South Carolina.

Be it further resolved that a copy of this resolution be forwarded to each of the four chambers of commerce in York County.