Vote 2022: Penny Tax for Roads Headlines the Decisions That Await Lexington County

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The Chronicle has assembled a guide to what will be on ballots in Lexington County in the November election. Find the full guide at lexingtonchronicle.com.

The outcome is uncertain on the passage of a penny sales tax to fund some $530 million in road improvements in Lexington County. The question of whether to enact the tax will be put to voters in the Nov. 8 election.

Supporters are hopeful that voters will approve the 1% Capital Project Sales Tax to improve much-needed repairs throughout the roads in the county.

Local governments and business leaders are endorsing the tax increase, which voters must approve in November’s elections.

Chambers of commerce in Lexington, Cayce/West Columbia, Irmo and Batesburg-Leesville created the “Vote YES For Roads” initiative to sway voters in favor of the penny tax. The coalition also includes the Lexington County Development Corporation, 1Voice Lexington County and others.

“One of the top complaints of Lexington County residents is the condition of our roads and congestion. The proposed Capital Project Sales Tax provides a solution to these issues,” Angelle LaBorde, Lexington Chamber President and CEO, said in an online posting. “This is the best solution to raise funds without raising property taxes. If not now, when?”

Lexington County Council Co-Chair Debbie Summers said she believes it will pass if voters educate themselves on the need for better roads.

“If they give it a lot of thought, it will pass,” Summers told the Lexington County Chronicle.

But there is opposition.

A Facebook page, “Stop penny tax in Lexington,” encourages residents to “Vote No” to a tax during a time of recession and inflation. The message on the site, sponsored by the Bolen Law firm, doesn’t mince words:

“So our leaders at the county level have decided they need another $530 million of our dollars and they want to convince (or more accurately trick) us into voluntarily giving them the money by adding one percent to the cost of everything we buy.  This was a bad idea in 2014 (when a previous tax hike was voted down) when times were good. It’s an even worse idea when we are in a recession and inflation is out of control.”

Lexington attorney Rich Bolen said he was motivated to set up the site because such a large tax imposition is totally unnecessary.

If the town needs money, it should find its own resources, he said.

West Columbia Council Member Mike Green is a strong supporter of the Facebook page and a strong opponent of the penny tax.

Green said the tax hike isn’t popular among county voters.

“I don’t think it’s going to pass,” he said, predicting the negative vote will be even worse than it was in 2014, when a similar proposal was rejected by voters.

The obvious argument against the tax is that it is not Lexington County’s responsibility to maintain roads, but the State Department of Transportation, Green said.

To pass on a cost of millions in road work to taxpayers is “crazy,” he said.

The Capital Project Sales Tax would raise $536 million dollars across eight years. The penny increase will not apply to groceries, gas or prescriptions, and it is estimated that approximately 20–40% of the funds will be contributed by non-residents.

County Council voted unanimously to approve the Capital Project Sales Tax Ordinance in July.

If approved by voters, the tax will impose a 1% sales and use tax, with all of the proceeds funding infrastructure improvement projects across the county.

If approved, the estimated $536 million would be used as follows: $382,195,140 for road improvement, repaving, resurfacing and related storm water drainage projects, $69,497,052 for intersection improvement projects, $76,327,808 for paving of dirt road projects, $7,980,000 for bridge projects. 

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