A Priority Investment Act approved by the S.C. House of Representatives two weeks ago was sent to the Senate last week. It is a piece of legislation that is sorely needed.

Recent annexation plans by Beaufort, Port Royal and now Yemassee are prime exhibits of this need. Port Royal wants to jump the county's urban boundary as outlined in the county's comprehensive plan and expand beyond the Chechessee River. Beaufort wants to annex 5,000 acres of land that could triple the city's population and extend it boundaries to the Whale Branch River. Now Yemassee wants to annex 1,300 acres of land. In the meantime, the County Council has ignored the recommendation of its planning staff and the Planning Commission and intends to rezone a 59-acre island in the Whale Branch River so that it can be more densely developed.

Everyone seems to be speaking -- but not the same language when it comes to planning and cooperation.

Today's planning summit among local government entities is a first step in a process that should have taken place long ago. Among those scheduled to participate today are county, municipal, school district and military officials. They are scheduled to discuss the goals of a Northern Beaufort County Regional Plan. The groups also are scheduled to discuss the impacts of proposed annexations.

The House version of the Priority Investment Act would require that local governments communicate with one another when investing in infrastructure like roads, water lines and sewer lines. But the law should include annexation plans, too. Gov. Mark Sanford said the legislation was important for improving the quality life -- especially for taxpayers.

The bill would add two elements to the Local Government Planning Act. The priority investment element would require that governments analyze funds available for public infrastructure. Recommendations would be made based on available funds -- and it provides for coordination of recommendations among local governments. Transportation would be another element. For instance, how would the addition of 16,000 homes in the Grays Hill/Seabrook area and the addition of homes on 1,300 acres in Yemassee affect day-to-day traffic -- and a hurricane evacuation?

A bonus in the plan would be an analysis of regulations that drive up the cost of developing affordable housing and incentives that would encourage its expansion.

If local governments don't have all of these issues on today's agenda, they ought to. And they ought to await the legislation and development of a regional plan before moving forward with annexations. But this summit isn't coming a day too soon.