Lexington County Council’s recent decision to cancel a decades-long agreement to maintain roads and drainage in municipalities within the county is drawing a backlash.

The measure was approved by a majority vote Dec. 6, but was harshly criticized by Council Member Todd Cullum during the meeting.

Cullum told the Chronicle residents of municipalities pay taxes for road maintenance, and it’s not fair for the county to abdicate that duty. He described the action as “extortion.”

What the council is saying is, “We are going to mayday your standards,” Cullum said.

He added that citizens of the municipalities are paying taxes for those services every time they put gas in their car.

Cayce Mayor Elise Partin issued a statement to the Chronicle in response to the decision.

“I am disappointed that this was not handled collegially from the outset,” she said. “It is very concerning for the taxpayers of Cayce. Cayce citizens pay taxes to the county for maintenance of roads, so it’s not fair to them for the county to abdicate that duty in any form, or any other responsibility they have. This is not a task the City can take on because we do not collect taxes for road maintenance. The county does. I would also note that this is not development or business friendly and if growth is the real concern, there are other ways to address that than by penalizing the municipalities that have been doing this properly and wisely, like Cayce has.”

West Columbia Mayor Tem Miles said he found it “incredibly inappropriate” for County Council to cancel an agreement that had been in effect for 45 years without a consultation.

Miles added he would be willing to negotiate an agreement with Lexington County on road maintenance and all other services the county could provide.

In a letter contained in the agenda of the Dec. 6 council meeting, the county indicates a willingness to negotiate a new agreement.

The letter, which was to be sent to municipalities, states County Council intends to terminate the 1978 agreement that pertains to Lexington County maintaining the roads and drainage for future subdivisions within municipal boundaries. 

“Lexington County intends to discuss developing a new agreement with your municipality,” the county writes. “It is anticipated that a new agreement will include a provision where Lexington County reserves the right to accept or deny acceptance of any roads and drainage within the municipal boundaries if the residential development does not meet Lexington County zoning development standards.”

Road conditions in Lexington County are expected to worsen by the end of the decade, according to a consultant’s recent report on road conditions.

The new report, received last month by the county from consultant Jay Thompson, has county officials once again discussing ways to raise money, including through a user fee and a sales tax hike.

Thompson said 38 percent of roads in Lexington County are currently classified as “fair” or “poor,” and 12 county-owned roads “failed” to meet standards. Thompson warned County Council members they didn’t have enough funding to halt the deterioration of the county’s roads.

Last year, county officials drew up a list of 400 road projects, priced at around $500 million, that would have been paid for by a new penny sales tax had voters approved the plan in a referendum. But 55% of voters rejected that idea.