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1976 South Carolina Code of Laws
Unannotated
Updated through the end of the 2006 Regular Session
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CHAPTER 5.
INVESTMENT OF FUNDS BY POLITICAL SUBDIVISIONS
SECTION 6-5-10. Authorized investments by political subdivisions.
(a) The governing body of any municipality, county, school district, or other local government unit or political subdivision and county treasurers may invest money subject to their control and jurisdiction in:
(1) Obligations of the United States and agencies thereof;
(2) General obligations of the State of South Carolina or any of its political units;
(3) Savings and Loan Associations to the extent that the same are insured by an agency of the federal government;
(4) Certificates of deposit where the certificates are collaterally secured by securities of the type described in (1) and (2) above held by a third party as escrow agent or custodian, of a market value not less than the amount of the certificates of deposit so secured, including interest; provided, however, such collateral shall not be required to the extent the same are insured by an agency of the federal government.
(5) Repurchase agreements when collateralized by securities as set forth in this section.
(6) No load open-end or closed-end management type investment companies or investment trusts registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, where the investment is made by a bank or trust company or savings and loan association or other financial institution when acting as trustee or agent for a bond or other debt issue of that local government unit, political subdivision, or county treasurer if the particular portfolio of the investment company or investment trust in which the investment is made (i) is limited to obligations described in items (1), (2), and (5) of this subsection, and (ii) has among its objectives the attempt to maintain a constant net asset value of one dollar a share and to that end, value its assets by the amortized cost method.
(7) A political subdivision receiving Medicaid funds appropriated by the General Assembly in the annual general appropriations act may utilize appropriated funds and other monies generated by hospital operations to participate in principal protected investments in the form of notes, bonds, guaranteed investment contracts, debentures, or other contracts issued by a bank chartered in the United States or agency of a bank if chartered in the United States, financial institution, insurance company, or other entity which provides for full principal payment at the end of a contract term not to exceed twelve years if the issuer has received a rating in one of three highest general rating categories issued by no fewer than two nationally recognized credit rating organizations. No more than forty percent of the appropriated funds and other monies generated by hospital operations may be invested in the manner provided in this item. Revenue realized pursuant to these investments must be expended on health care services.
(b) The provisions of this chapter shall not impair the power of a municipality, county, school district or other local governmental unit or political subdivision or county treasurer to hold funds in deposit accounts with banking institutions as otherwise authorized by law.
(c) Such investments shall have maturities consistent with the time or times when the invested moneys will be needed in cash.
SECTION 6-5-15. Securing bank deposits of funds deposited by local entities.
(A) As used in this section, "local entity" means the governing body of a municipality, county, school district, other local government unit or political subdivision, or a county treasurer.
(B) A bank or savings and loan association, upon the deposit of funds by a local entity, must secure these deposits by deposit insurance, surety bonds, collateral securities, or letters of credit to protect the local entity against loss in the event of insolvency or liquidation of the institution or for any other cause.
(C) To the extent that these deposits exceed the amount of insurance coverage provided by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, the bank or savings and loan association at the time of deposit must:
(1) furnish an indemnity bond in a responsible surety company authorized to do business in this State; or
(2) pledge as collateral:
(a) obligations of the United States;
(b) obligations fully guaranteed both as to principal and interest by the United States;
(c) general obligations of this State or any political subdivision of this State; or
(d) obligations of the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Farm Credit Bank, or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation; or
(3) provide an irrevocable letter of credit issued by the Federal National Mortgage Association, the Federal Home Loan Bank, Federal Farm Credit Bank, or the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, in which the local entity is named as beneficiary and the letter of credit otherwise meets the criteria established and prescribed by the local entity.
(D) The local entity must exercise prudence in accepting collateral securities or other forms of deposit security.
SECTION 6-5-20. Delegation of investment authority.
The governing body may delegate the investment authority provided by Section 6-5-10 to the treasurer or other financial officer or any fiscal agent or corporate trustee charged with custody of the funds of the local government, who shall thereafter assume full responsibility for such investment transaction until the delegation of authority terminates or is revoked.
SECTION 6-5-30. Assistance of State Treasurer.
The State Treasurer is authorized to assist local governments in investing funds that are temporarily in excess of operating needs by:
(1) Explaining investment opportunities to such local governments through publication and other appropriate means;
(2) Acquainting such local governments with the State's practice and experience in investing short-term funds; and
(3) Providing technical assistance in investment of idle funds to local governments that request such assistance.
SECTION 6-5-40. Chapter shall be supplementary to other statutes.
The provisions of this chapter are not in lieu of, but are supplementary to, existing analogous statutory authorizations relating to investments, all of which shall remain in full force and effect.