Filing opens today for Democrats running for Senate District 20 after the previous candidate, Kit Smith, dropped out for health reasons.

The district, represented since 1985 by Republican John Courson, spans parts of Richland and Lexington counties. Courson is running for re-election.

Candidates must sign up by noon Monday by contacting the S.C. Democratic Party, 1517 Blanding St. in Columbia. Cost is $416.

Late last month, Smith, a member of Richland County Council, announced her decision to abandon the Senate race, citing continued monitoring for breast cancer. The timing of her decision allowed Democrats to quickly resume the sign-up period for the Nov. 2 general election.

• LEXINGTON-RICHLAND 5School board OKs property tax rollback

The Lexington-Richland 5 school board voted unanimously Monday night to reduce residential taxes about $4 for each $100,000 worth of assessed value.

New property tax bills will be mailed in late fall. The District 5 tax rate for a home with an assessed value of $100,000 generated about $984 a year ago.

An influx of extra state aid to support public schools, unanticipated growth in local tax collections and cost-cutting steps that created a surplus of $200,000 were factors that enabled the district’s administration to recommend a rollback in the tax rate.

Dan Chandler, the district’s chief financial officer, projects the Irmo-Chapin school system will have $397,300 more than needed to balance a $106.2 million budget, including $5.3 million for emergencies.

• LEXINGTON COUNTYPublic forum to cover bond referendum

Several Lexington County neighborhood groups have scheduled a public forum Sept. 30 to discuss the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission’s $18.5 million bond referendum.

The forum will be at 7:30 p.m. at the Irmo branch library at 6251 St. Andrews Road. The neighborhood association leaders who have put together the program are opposed to the referendum, but the people on both sides of the issue will be allowed to speak.

The recreation agency is asking voters on Nov. 2 to decide whether to spend the money on a water park, an indoor pool, a community theater and two skate parks. If passed, the bond would add about $25 in taxes on a $100,000 home each year.

• LAKE MURRAYDam repairs, weeds topic of lake meeting

An update on both dam repairs and hydrilla weed control will be featured at the meeting of the Lake Murray Association at 7 p.m. Monday.

The session is open to the public. It will be at Irmo Elementary School, 7401 Gibbes St.

Contributing: Dawn Hinshaw, Bill Robinson, Joey Holleman and Tim Flach