Voters to Decide on Road/Bridges Repair Funding

Greg Wilson/Anderson Observer

Early voting for the Nov. 5 general elections is under way and Anderson County voters are being asked to vote on a referendum calling for a penny sales tax on all goods purchased in Anderson County to fund roads and bridges.

A third of the county’s roads are rated poor or failing and 57 of 162 bridges cannot be used by school buses or fire trucks.

Currently 42 the state's 46 counties have a similar tax or fee structure to fund roadwork.

A penny sales tax, which excludes groceries, would generate more than $350 million for road/bridge repair, with more than 35 percent to be paid by those driving through or visiting the county, thus spreading the burden more equitably.

The new tax would be $1 in taxes to a $100 purchase, 10 cents to a $10 purchase, and one cent on a $1 purchase.

A number of national studies suggests that well-maintained roads more than offset the cost of vehicle fees in savings on tires, alignments and other mechanical repairs caused by poor roads. Improperly maintained roads are also to blame for injuries and deaths in vehicle accidents on the road each year.

There are two referendum questions on the ballot. The first asks for

The first reads:

Question 1: “I approve a special sales and use tax in the amount of one percent to be imposed in Anderson County, South Carolina for not more than seven years to fund the following project or projects: Project (1) For improvements to highways, roads (paved and unpaved), streets, intersections, and bridges within Anderson County, South Carolina,

including related drainage system improvements. $366,000,000” Yes ___ No ___

The second reads:

Question 2 “I approve the issuance of not exceeding $15,000,000 of general obligation bonds of Anderson County payable from the special sales and use tax described in Question 1 above, maturing over a period not to exceed seven years, to fund a portion of the projects described in Question 1 above.” Yes ___ No ___

The funds will not be available for any use other than actual roadwork, and cannot be transferred to any other budget areas, including personnel.

A series of meetings countywide are being scheduled to educate citizens on the proposal. Deputy Administrator Matt Hogan talked with the Anderson Observer about this effort.