Residents can learn about proposed change before November vote
IRMO — The Town of Irmo will hold its final public information meeting on Oct. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Irmo Municipal Building, 7300 Woodrow St., to discuss a referendum asking voters to change the town’s official form of government from council to council-manager. Light refreshments will be served.
The November ballot question will ask: “Shall the Town of Irmo change its form of government from the Council form to the Council-Manager form?”
Town residents should attend to learn more about the referendum, ask questions, and understand why this administrative alignment is taking place. Light refreshments will be served at both meetings.
Under the current municipal administration, the Town initiated a comprehensive review of all local ordinances and codes to ensure accuracy, transparency, and administrative accountability. During the review, the town found that while Irmo has operated in practice under a council-manager model for decades by using a professional town administrator, deputy town administrator, and nearly 60 full-time employees, the town’s official paperwork filed with the State of South Carolina still reflects the small-town council form.
To formally correct the discrepancy with the state, the Irmo Town Council approved the proposed structural update across two official council readings and voted to place the referendum on the November ballot for voter confirmation.
Council Form (Current Paperwork): Administrative authority is shared collectively by the elected council as a governing body. Management duties are split among council members, a model typically designed for smaller municipalities.
Council-Manager Form (Proposed and actual current practice): The elected council sets overall policies, vision, and budgets, while daily operational administration and staff supervision are entrusted to a professionally hired town administrator.
Under the council-manager structure, the town council retains full legislative authority, including appointing municipal judges, attorneys, auditors, and the town clerk. However, general administration, key operational oversight, and personnel decisions (hiring and firing) are managed by the professional manager, creating a clear line of operational accountability.
Town officials emphasize that for Irmo residents, absolutely nothing will change in terms of day-to-day municipal operations, leadership, or town services. Public safety, sanitation, community events, and administrative services will continue exactly as they are delivered today. The sole purpose of the November referendum is to bring the Town’s official state governing documentation into strict legal alignment with the administrative practices Irmo has used for decades.
Residents are encouraged to attend the final meeting to learn more about the proposal and ask questions. For voter registration information and sample ballots, visit scvotes.gov.
Irmo residents will vote on the referendum Tuesday, Nov. 3, as part of the 2026 general election.
