During a recent forum on the Charlie James radio show, several members of the Greenville County Council expressed their opposition to a proposed tax. Councilman Benton Blount raised concerns, stating that an additional tax would burden many residents who are already struggling financially. He emphasized that if the tax goes through, the county should expect the state to reimburse them for expenses related to state roads.
Blount highlighted that while the South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) is overseeing the paving projects, there’s a chance that the funds could remain unused for many years. He made it clear that SCDOT would not manage the overall projects or the revenue generated from this tax.
The tax revenue would be collected by the state Department of Revenue, but it would be allocated specifically for projects in Greenville County. Should the tax be approved, the county would issue a $150 million bond, which would be supported by the tax revenue, enabling work to start without delay.
During the same discussion, Councilman Rick Bradley suggested that the county should consider establishing its own roads department before proceeding with the proposed sales tax.
Councilman Ennis Fant shared his frustrations, claiming there are misleading statements from some of his fellow council members. He asserted that if sufficient funds were available for the necessary projects, the county would not be contemplating this tax.
Fant and Bradley are set to debate on October 30 at 8 p.m., an event that will be streamed live on Fant’s Facebook page.
A few council members, including Bradley, Blount, and Councilman Steve Shaw, have suggested that the county could use developer impact fees as an alternative funding source for road improvements. However, Fant countered that such fees could increase housing prices in Greenville County, worsening the area’s housing affordability crisis.
A similar tax proposal was rejected by voters in 2014, with officials attributing the loss to the inclusion of groceries and prescription drugs in the tax.
